Male Dancers in Egypt, new article. - Page 4

Aisha Azar · 01-07-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarik Sultan

I guess it depends on the venue. I think part of it may be because none of the places in the city have real dance floors. Its hard to engage the audience/get their attention when you can't really be the visual focus of attention. The cymbals gets everyone to focus on you. They deffinately allert people that the show is starting and they clear the way for me so I can dance.

With some of the other venues, I think it may be what the crowd/owner was use to back home. If they were use to seeing the Mohamed Ali Street Dancers, who did play them much more than the night club dancers, then that's what they expect. I know the crowd where I live are not the kind who would have been able to freqent nightclubs back home. It could be a combination of things, but here it really does seem to be what the Egyptian owners like. Go figure.

Dear Tarik,
Are the clientele mostly Arab or American?? I have noted that American audiences LOVE finger cymbals. The owners might be echoing the preferences of their patrons...
Regards,
A'isha

Tarik Sultan · 01-09-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

Dear Tarik,
Are the clientele mostly Arab or American?? I have noted that American audiences LOVE finger cymbals. The owners might be echoing the preferences of their patrons...
Regards,
A'isha

You have a point. Americans certainly do like it. I think it's both. The place in Jersey where I live is almost 100% Egyptians from the baladi class, with a few Nubians, Sudanese, Chadics and the sprinkle of Moroccan here and there.
The place I dance in is Egyptian owned, but as how he managed to alieanate the entire Egyptian and Moroccan community, it's mostly American and a lot of South Asians. When I started working there it was about 60% Middle Eastern. The second place my student danced, up the street from my joint is 90% Egyptian. The other 10% is South Asian, Levantine and Kalegys. The owners are also Baladi class Egyptian....Actually all the owners of the places I mentioned are Baladi class. So I think its partly what they are use, but I still think it has more to do withthe configuration of the places and the atmosphere.