Raqs Roots Intensive 2025: Afrah Baladi!

This November, groundbreaking bellydance historian Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) and renowned Egyptian traditional artist Reda Henkesh return to Manchester UK!

Dates: Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of November

Inspired by deep and fascinating conversations at our 2024 event, we’ve put together a whole exciting new weekend programme for this year on the theme of “Afrah baladi – baladi weddings of Cairo”

Reda Henkesh and his musician contemporaries on Mohammed Ali Street speak of baladi weddings as “al-madrasat al-fann” – the school of art: a training ground where sha’abi stars were born, and even the greatest classically-trained musicians and most famous dancers came to work to hone their skills, and become true masters of their trade…

Drawing upon Nisaa’s research and fieldwork with Egyptian traditional entertainers, and Reda’s lifetime of professional experience at the heart of Cairo’s music and dance scene, they’ll be combining their expertise to paint a vibrant picture of baladi weddings in the 1970s-1980s, the bellydancers who performed at them, and the rich musical legacy of this era, from improvised ashra baladi to the sha’abi music of Ahmed Adawiya

Prepare to be surprised, challenged, and inspired – and don’t be surprised if your dance priorities totally change after this weekend!

The weekend schedule

Friday evening – “Meet and greet” meal – an optional social meetup, come and enjoy a Lebanese meal and get to know your teachers & fellow dancers!

Meet your teachers

Full workshop descriptions

Afrah Baladi: A Glimpse into the Baladi Weddings of Cairo – 1.5h lecture (ONLINE OPTION AVAILABLE)

Description: The significance of weddings in Egyptian social and cultural life cannot be overstated.  Far more than just a celebration of a newly married couple, these events embody the values, concerns, and hopes of ordinary Egyptians.  In the 1970s and 1980s, the weddings of Cairo’s lower classes in neighborhoods like Darb al-Ahmar and Sayyid Zaynab captured the essence of this unique space and time. 

For students of Egyptian music and dance history, these weddings represent the final florescence of Muhammad Ali Street music and dance culture prior to the street’s ultimate decline.  In this lecture, Nisaa and Reda Henkesh give you a glimpse into the baladi weddings of Cairo in the 1970s and 1980s. 

You’ll learn the format and structure of a typical baladi wedding of this period, what set it apart from Egyptian weddings of other times and places, and why Muhammad Ali Street musicians like Reda consider the baladi wedding to be al-madrasat al-fann: the school of art. 

And most importantly, you’ll experience the insights and perspectives of a traditional musician with direct ties to this special time and place in Egyptian history.

Classic Afrah Baladi Song of the 1970s/1980s – 1.5h dance workshop with live music

Description: The baladi weddings of Cairo in the 1970s and 1980s were a watershed moment in Egyptian music and dance history.  This was the end of an era, as the imminent decline of Muhammad Ali Street would bring fundamental changes to Egyptian traditional entertainment. 

The popular songs that were performed to accompany professional dancers in these settings capture the atmosphere and aesthetic of this remarkable moment in Egyptian dance and music history.  They also offer an opportunity to experience the dance style of Cairo’s awalim during their final years. 

In this workshop, Reda Henkesh and our guest musicians will introduce you to a classic baladi wedding song, and Nisaa guides you through a dance exploration informed by mid-to-late 20^th century awalim stylization.

Ashra Baladi: The Baladi Tet – 2h dance workshop with live music

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 with a particular focus on the tet variation, and Nisaa leads participants in movement interpretation accompanied by Reda and our guest musicians.  Please bring a stick or a cane!

The Deep Roots of Sha’abi Music – 1.5h lecture (ONLINE OPTION AVAILABLE)

Description: In Arabic, the word “sha’abi” literally means “folk” or “popular” and can refer to any kind of folk or traditional music.  But when foreign practitioners of Egyptian belly dance hear this word, they usually think of one style of sha’abi music in particular: the urban popular music of Cairo’s lower classes, made famous by singers like Ahmad Adawiya and Hassan al-Asmar. 

Yet, the roots of this musical genre extend much deeper than the 1970s and 1980s, and its influence persists in the present day.  The sha’abi music of Adawiya and his successors would not exist without the precedents set by the artists and entertainers of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.  And the sha’abi music of today is built upon the foundation established by the generations of popular performers who came before. 

Join Nisaa and Reda Henkesh for an in-depth exploration of the history of this vibrant musical genre and its role as the voice of the people.

Sagat in Egyptian Belly Dance – 1.5h dance workshop

Description: Sagat, or finger cymbals, have been a part of Egyptian belly dance performance for centuries.  Although cymbal playing has faded out of fashion in present-day raqs sharqi, sagat remain integral to traditional belly dance styles. 

For those who perform awalim and ghawazi stylization, the ability to play sagat is essential.  But the role of finger cymbals in Egyptian belly dance is not the same as in other non-Egyptian belly dance styles, and dancers aren’t expected to play sagat in the same way as musicians. 

In this workshop, Nisaa and Reda Henkesh guide you on an exploration of sagat in Egyptian belly dance, focusing specifically on the aesthetic and technical skill set expected of a dancer.

Note to students: Please bring finger cymbals if possible. 

Classic Sha’abi of the 1970s/1980s – 2h dance workshop

Description: The sha’abi music of the 1970s and 1980s is among the most challenging and exciting for dancers and audiences alike. 

Though elites have stereotyped this genre as simplistic and vulgar, the reality is that sha’abi music is often musically complex and emotionally powerful.  Moreover, some of the finest composers and musicians of the 20^th century produced and performed this popular musical genre. 

In this workshop, Reda Henkesh introduces you to a classic sha’abi song, sharing details of its composition and structure, while Nisaa guides you through a dance exploration, illustrating the complexity and nuance of this important musical genre.