Egyptian Folklore Series
Thursdays 1/8 - 1/29
6:30-8:30pm
Expand your dance skills and cultural knowledge with this 4-week Egyptian Folklore Series that will leave you inspired, refreshed, and educated!
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Led by an authentic Egyptian dance expert RAGAEY HUSSEIN, you will learn traditional moves and steps people of Egypt have been enjoying and performing for centuries and tap into dance styles that are RARE to find in typical classes. Each week you will dive into one Egyptian dance style for a total of FOUR DIFFERENT EGYPTIAN STYLES (see description of each below).
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Beyond fresh technique and combos, a comprehensive review of the culture and history of each style will be offered, including a demonstration of the appropriate costume that goes with it!
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Participating in this course is not only fun, educational and different, but it also makes YOU an essential part of preserving the precious culture of the people who created these dances, and helping it live on.
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If you’re brand new to bellydance- this will give you a good understanding of the style and a leg up (no pun intended…) on footwork which is a tricky skill to master! If you do have experience, this unique course will give you much inspiration to draw from to help you enhance your creativity and develop your own style, while staying true to the form and honoring the culture.
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Learn true Egyptian dance from a dancer of the culture who has been performing and teaching these style for decades!
You can drop in any class or take all four for a well-rounded education of Egyptian folklore, and a new, fun challenge!
Watch world-class belly dancer Jasirah inserting folklore elements into this modern belly dance piece:
(Timecode 1:44- saidi dance, 2:10- hagala step)
Saidi dance:
Fellahi dance:
Hagala dance:
Ghawazi dance:
Styles:
1/8 Saidi
1/15 Fellahi
1/22 Hagala
1/29 Ghawazi
(scroll down to watch examples of each Egyptian dance style)
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Details:
Thursdays 1/8 - 1/29
6:30-8:30pm
Open Jar Studios
1601 Broadway 11th floor
NYC 10019
Cost
$60 drop in
$199 all 4 sessions
10% discount for monthly members
About the instructor:
Ragaey Hussein is a respected performer and cultural bearer who danced with Egypt’s world-renowned Reda Troupe. He'll teach you strong technique, fun tricks, and traditional movements that connect you to the deep roots of Egyptian culture while giving you something fresh and exciting to bring to the stage.
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About the dances:
Saidi:
The term “Saidi” refers to a region in Egypt, as well as a specific rhythm (doum tek doum doum tek) and dance style that goes with it. Originating in an Egyptian martial art, called “tahtib”, where men used to fight each other with a large stick, this dance has a lot of power and masculine energy. It evolved into a more feminine version with a more delicate stick (cane) and added hip movements over time.
Fellahi:
The word FELLAH means “farmer” in Arabic, so this is a dance that represents day-to-day work by the farmers of the Nile region in Egypt, as it was interpreted by famous Egyptian choreographer Mahmoud Reda in the 1960’s.
Hagala:
Named after a professional Egyptian dancer from the 1960’s (Al-Hagala), this dance is characterized by a unique pelvic oscillation that was developed into an entire dance style by famous Egyptian choreographer Mahmoud Reda.
Ghawazi:
The “Ghawazi” are a tribe of nomads who originated in Kurdistan, Iran, and possibly India, and were kicked out of their homelands for the acts of stealing and plundering they would perform. In Egypt, they became professional dancers and musicians to clean their reputation.
They perform only their rare, traditional dance in their unique costumes.
Ragaey Hussein performing at a SHEBA showcase:
Video by Spencer Grundler
Add flair and variety to your dance, honor your dance ancestors, and connect deeper to yourself and to the culture-
Space limited to 10 DANCERS ONLY per session!