Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival 2009
Page 2:Teachers from Around the World
Photos by Denise Marino
text by Leyla Lanty
posted November 4, 2009
It’s June 27, 2009, in Cairo, Egypt, which can mean only one thing – the Opening Gala of Raqia Hassan‘s Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival! At the Mena House hotel the excitement in the air is palpable, not only because of the highly anticipated evening show where dancers from all over the world gather to see the top dancers, musicians, and singers in Egypt, but the next week of classes with Egyptian stars and teachers from all over the world, nightly parties, and the Closing Gala, a spectacular evening of top dancers, AWS competition winners, musicians, and singers.
Raqia hires a large staff of teachers from all over the world. They range in fame from the top stars of Cairo to those who may only be known to Raqia and in their own home localities as top notch teachers and performers.
On Teachers’ Night, held on the night after the Opening Gala, AWS teachers who wish to perform have the opportunity to show their special talents to festival attendees The next day many people go to the registration desk and register for additional classes with teachers they saw in the show.
On days one through six, classes are held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Mena House hotel. Raqia hires a number of professional drummers on a stand-by basis so that any teacher who needs a live drummer only has to ask and a drummer appears in the class ready to accompany the instruction and practice. Classes taught by superstar performers and teachers such as Dina, Randa Kamel, Dandash, Raqia herself, Dr. Mo Geddawy and more are held in the large ballrooms, while the smaller classes, from about 10 to 60 people, are held in the conference rooms, dining rooms and other spaces. Over the four years I’ve taught cymbals at AWS, my class has been in the nightclub, two conference rooms, and the basement disco. Heard in the lobby after the Teachers’ Night show "So many teachers, so hard to choose!"
Teachers at AWS Fest 2009
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Denise Marino, world traveling professional photographer, who has been a featured photographer at the festival for several years, contributed these magnificent photos from AWS 2009 to the Gilded Serpent.
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Check the "Letters to the Editor" for other possible viewpoints!
Ready for more?
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September 28-30, 2007, in Bogner Regis, England Gala photos provided by Josephine Wise, others by author.
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As in the rest of the world, the Egyptian style of belly dance is the most popular one in Estonia. Most of the instructors and dancers are specialized in that style. The American Tribal Style Belly Dance is also becoming more known each day. The general impression of belly dance in Estonia is glamorous, feminine, luxurious, modern and elegant. It’s a time where Estonian dancers can truly say that they can be proud to be a Middle Eastern dance artist in Estonia. - 5-27-06 Bellydance in Iceland
Recently, I was able to witness first hand how truly global the world of bellydance has become. Dances of the Middle East and North Africa are no longer a mystery and unknown “exotic”style of dance. - 1-13-05 The Grand International Bellydance Tour or How We Fled India at Midnight, Eluding Our Captors and Evading our Go-Go-Dance Responsibilities. or What Would Fifi Do?
It may not have been such a problem for us had the prostitutes not been posing as bellydancers! - 3-19-09 Indonesia’s Introduction to Belly Dance: The Mainstream Media’s Influence
Extensive mainstream media attention has been a mixed bag of blessings and, well, “somewhat less than blessings,” as most Indonesians would diplomatically say. - 10-14-04 Undercover Belly Dancer in Iraq
My name is Meena. Until a month ago, I was a professional belly dancer in Phoenix, Arizona. - 5-4-04 Belly Dance in Israel
Belly dancers are the hottest trend at the moment, unlike the totally frozen attitudes towards the Arab culture in Israel. - 9-17-08 Belly Dance in Japan Reaches New Heights of Popularity
Japanese audiences are extremely receptive, supportive and interested in this form of entertainment.” Conservative elder Japanese may still disapprove of the sensual aspect of belly dance, but among the younger generation it is seen as cool and trendy. - 8-23-07 Roots Raqs – An International Belly Dancer Goes Home to Macedonia
The musical folklore of this region deserves full debut in the World Music scene, and those of us in the MED community worldwide are ripe for the breath of fresh air that Chochek and Gypsy Brass Music can bring us. It is an original, organic and time-honored fusion, brought about by history, geography, and most importantly, tolerance and mutual cultural celebration. - 3-10-09 Its All in the Flavor! Bellydance in Mexico
Those were tough times for us teachers. Students were very shy in the classroom but eager to learn; some of them even thought that Shakira had created Bellydance! They didn’t have much information about Oriental Dance, its origins, or different styles. Some aspiring dancers even sat through several classes just to check out what Bellydance was or if we teachers danced it as well as Shakira. - 9-4-07 The Birth of a Dance Scene, The History of Oriental Dance in Switzerland
Please allow me to introduce some of these groundbreakers so that you will appreciate what it was like to be an Oriental dancer in Switzerland in the early 1980s. - 6-6-06 The Bellydance Scene in Taiwan Toss Hair Dance
The women were much more skillful than I expected: just 3 years ago, nobody in Taiwan really knew anything about Bellydance. - 10-17-08 Tajikistan: The Land of Dance Part One
Video features: #1-Introduction by author, #2- A Map Tour on an ancient and modern map.
" Communication with the outside world is difficult and expensive, and nearly impossible during the winter." - 10-5-01 DANCING IN YEMEN
I had been to many Middle Eastern weddings before, but none were as visually impressive as the ones I attended in Sanaa, Yemen. - 4-7-08 When the Hip Hits the Fan
Though fan dancing is not considered traditional in raqs sharqi, due to the increasing popularity of fusion, many Oriental dancers are exploring fusing the many styles of fan dancing and Belly dance with stunning results. When used onstage, fans are FAN-ciful, conveying various emotions to an audience, as well as being a spectacular visual treat. They can be dramatic and stately, or coy and flirtatious and are always a crowd pleaser! - 9-8-05 Belly Dance, Burlesque and Beyond: Confessions of a Post Modern Showgirl
“BUT WAIT!!!” I can hear you screaming, “ BURLESQUE IS STRIPPING!” - 7-29-09 At Home with Fifi Abdou
In America, one of the things that especially pleased me was the inclusiveness of the dance scene there – in my classes I saw women of many different ages – and body types – enjoying dancing, and that made me happy - 8-16-08 Randa Kamal
"Then the film roles that I’ve been offered have unfortunately been frivolous, or portrayed the dancer in the stereotypical way they always do. The cinema has done enough to spoil the reputation of dancers, without me adding to it by taking such a role."
Barbara Grant
Nov 7, 2009 - 03:11:06
Incredible, beautiful photos from Denise Marino! Thanks!
Lynette, GS and the community are so lucky that incredibly great photographers post to this site. The quality just keeps getting better.
Lynette Harris
Nov 8, 2009 - 07:11:22
Indeed we are! Please support your community photographers with your business, referrals, and kind words. Thanks to all!