Joana Saahirah´s World Blog

A Collection of Articles, Videos, and Freebies on Egyptian Dance, Self-Discovery & Empowerment

Myth #3 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)

The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)

 



Myth #3 - 
Egyptian Dance is only for Women.

(is it?)


My first Egyptian Dance teacher was a man - Shokry Mohamed.

My dearest Egyptian Dance teacher was a man - Mahmoud Reda.
 
The best Egyptian Dance performance I´ve ever seen was gifted to me by a man - Aziz, my "bedleh" designer, brother, and friend, who surprised by performing the best Om Kolthoum´s dance rendition I´ve ever seen in my life.

On my...

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Myth #4 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)

The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)

 



Myth #3 - Egyptian Dance is Easy.



Hmmm. Define "easy".

If by "easy", you mean that Egyptian Dance can be learned by everyone, as long as they can move and they´re willing to study it, then, yes, Egyptian Dance is easy.

If by "easy", you mean that Egyptian Dance is so basic it offers no challenge, no need for study or practice, no requirements from the one who´s dancing, we´ve got a myth going on.


Egyptian...

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Myth #5 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)

The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)

 



Myth #3 - Egyptian Dance is not suited for Children.




Lunch time. Portuguese food and wine (the best in the world if you put Indian food aside). My man and a couple. I was absent, working.

They wondered if it was safe to expose their little daughter to my infamous, untamed, shameful and, that was hard to admit but it was implied, thrilling profession.



- Isn´t what she does inappropriate for children? - They asked,...

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Myth #6 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)

The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)

 



Myth #6 - Egyptian Dance is about Moving your Belly.


I mean, it´s been called "belly dance", whatever that means, for a while. Then, there´s a surprise: people believe that Egyptian Oriental Dance - aka "Raks al Sharki" - is about moving the belly.



Let´s clean this mess, shall we?



First, the term "belly dance" is a foreign addition/distortion to the real name of the dance which is "Raks el Sharki",...

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Myth #2 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)

The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)📯📯📯

 
 

Myth #2 - Egyptian Dance is Exotic and made for a few.

 
 
When I started to work as a professional Oriental Dancer, I made a point in promoting the dance, the culture, and the reason why I thought it was for everyone. I performed on television often, I was interviewed by the press, I organized workshops, performances and lectures and, basically, I put Egyptian Dance on the map in my country.
 ...
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How to keep the Warmth of your Heart

 

- Foreign dancers may be better, technically, and more beautiful and professional than Egyptians, but they´re cold. This is where they lose the game. 

 

First, let´s hit pause. There´s nothing to lose or gain because, let me repeat this till exhaustion, we don´t have to live and dance in competition mode. Let whoever wants to compete with you, compete. Let them burn in that fire if that´s their wish - you don´t have to participate in...

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Myth #1 about Egyptian Dance (and its debunking)

 

The most common Myths about Egyptian Dance (and their debunking)

 



 
Myth #1 - Egyptian Dance is a Seduction Ritual.
 
 
 
And, by saying "a seduction ritual", I´m being nice. Polite. Prudish, perhaps.
 Although I know where this idea comes from, and although a lot of dancers keep feeding it, I never wrapped my head around it. There´s a part of me, the part that knows, that can´t digest this nonsense.
 
 
Yes, Egyptian...
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The Importance of Rhythm in Egyptian Dance

Joana Saahirah World
The Importance of Rhythm in Egyptian Dance
11:29
 

What is the big deal around Rhythm?

Is Rhythm really that important?

Do Oriental Dancers have to know Rhythms?

Check this Blog Post/Audio Post where I share a few reasons why Rhythm is central in Egyptian Dance.

 

Listen. Enjoy.

 

Want to develop your relationship with Rhythm even further? 

If so, join our upcoming Course "Rhythms for Oriental Dancers" created and delivered by Joana Saahirah and our guest teacher, Mr. George Sawa.

 

Click ...

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3 Steps to Improve your Musicality

Why should you even care?

Why is Musicality such a big deal?

Aren´t dancers supposed to be moving instead of listening?

 

If I earned a dollar each time I heard one of those questions, I´d be a millionaire. 

 And it pains me to notice how ignorant most of us are of the true magic of Egyptian Dance.

 

Yes, Egyptian Dance is movement but it cannot be resumed to it. Egyptian Dance is not a sport, not a gymnastic discipline, not an army drill, not a mechanical set...

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"Alhamdulillah" - Motivational Message by Joana Saahirah

Joana Saahirah World
"Alhamdulillah" - Motivational Message by Joana Saahirah
15:05
 

Having lived and performed in Egypt for almost a decade meant three things:

1. The beginning of my international career in Egyptian Oriental and Folkloric Dance;

2. An in-depth knowledge and love for Egyptian Dance, Music, and Culture;

3. A deep, often dramatic, shift in the way I saw myself, the world, and life.

 

One of the most challenging aspects of living and working, as a foreigner, in a different culture, is the shock between the values we carry within and the values that...

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