Baladi, Awalem & Ghawazee intensive

Baladi, Awalem & Ghawazee intensive with Nisaa of St Louis and Reda Henkesh

This November, groundbreaking bellydance historian Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) and Egyptian master percussionist Reda Henkesh have joined forces to bring something totally unique to us in Manchester!

Teaching in Europe for the very first time, Nisaa and Reda will put together their vast expertise to bring you a whole information-packed weekend of traditional Egyptian entertainment dances – from the urban Awalem of Cairo, to the elusive Ghawazee dancers of the Nile Delta

With Nisaa’s cutting-edge research and fieldwork, and Reda’s lifetime of professional experience at the heart of Cairo’s music and dance scene, they’ll be sharing documented facts and living oral histories to paint a vibrant picture of traditional Egyptian dancers through the years

You’ll also learn some of the most distinctive elements of traditional Egyptian bellydance: baladi improvisation, the spectacular candelabrum dance “Raqs Shamadan”, and floorwork!

Prepare to be surprised, challenged, and fascinated…

The weekend schedule

Meet your instructors

Full workshop descriptions

Awalem and Delta Ghawazee – Lecture – ONLINE option available

Description: The awalem and the ghawazee are Egypt’s original professional belly dancers.  Long before the emergence of theatrical raqs sharqi at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th centuries, the singing and dancing of these women brought joy and delight to important social occasions.  Well after the rise of raqs sharqi, the awalem and the ghawazee would persist in Egyptian life, even into the modern day.  This lecture traces the complicated history of the urban awalem and the Delta ghawazee from the late 18th century through the 20th, based on Nisaa’s in-depth research and Reda’s personal experiences and observations of the last decades of awalem and Delta ghawazee culture.

Awalem and Delta Ghawazee – Dance Workshop

Description: In this workshop, Nisaa and Reda guide you through a music and movement exploration of the belly dance stylization of Egypt’s urban awalem and Delta ghawazee (focusing on mid-to-late 20^th century stylization).  The dance style of these Lower Egyptian traditional entertainers was much more raw and exuberant than the raqs sharqi that would come to dominate in nightclubs and cinema.  Frequently, the dance would incorporate gymnastic feats and spectacular balancing acts, the means by which each entertainer would set herself apart from the others. 

Note to students: Please bring finger cymbals if possible.  There will only be minimal floorwork in this class, as traditional floorwork will be addressed in the Sunday workshops.

Ashra Baladi (with live music) – Dance Workshop

Description: The ashra baladi, known to many dancers outside Egypt as the baladi progression or taqsim baladi, is the quintessential music for Egyptian belly dance.  This uniquely Egyptian musical genre emerged around the mid-20th century in the context of urban wedding celebrations.  It is characterized by its slow build of energy and intensity, and by the interaction among the accordion, the drum, and the dancer.  In this workshop, Reda breaks down the musical structure of the ashra baladi, including the tet and awadi variations, and Nisaa leads participants in movement interpretation. We will be joined by an accordionist for this class, for the full live music experience!

Floorwork in Egyptian Belly Dance – Dance Workshop

Description: Join Nisaa and Reda for an exploration of traditional Egyptian floorwork through music and movement.  Learn of the long history of floorwork in Egyptian belly dance, the ways it has changed through time, and its persistence through periods of government regulation in Egypt.  In addition, explore how the technique and aesthetic of traditional Egyptian floorwork differs from the floorwork stylization that has become typical in Western belly dance interpretations. 

Note to students: Worried that this workshop might be too physically demanding?  Please rest assured that you are welcome to attend and learn regardless of whether you can execute each and every floor movement!  For Nisaa and Reda, it’s much more important that you learn the history and culture of Egyptian floorwork.  So please, join us and participate in the movement practice to whatever extent you feel comfortable!

Raqs Shamadan – Dance Workshop

Description: Raqs shamadan, the candelabrum dance, is one of the most unique and spectacular Egyptian dances.  Though its exact time and place of origin is unclear, this dance has been strongly associated Egypt’s urban awalem and Delta ghawazee since the turn of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  In raqs shamadan, the performer wears a candelabrum – the shamadan – balanced on her head.  She shows off her skill and dexterity by performing feats such as descending to the floor and playing finger cymbals while balancing the shamadan.  In this workshop, Nisaa and Reda guide you through a music and movement exploration of this dance style, including aesthetic and technique, balancing tips, and choosing appropriate musical accompaniment, as well as distinguishing between the original awalem/ghawazee style and later theatrical incarnations. 

Note to students: Please bring finger cymbals if possible.  A shamadan is not required, but if you have your own, it would be very helpful!  Lastly, this class will involve some floorwork, but please see the note from the floorwork workshop!