Thread: Dina in Egypt, Is Belly Dancing Dead? Part 1

Belly dancer fears her art is dying
Nadia abou el Magd, Foreign Correspondent
Last Updated: June 30. 2008 10:16PM UAE / GMT

Dina, Egypt’s most famous belly dancer, performs at the Haroun el Rashid Club in the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel in Cairo. Victoria Hazou for The National
CAIRO // At about 2.30am on a Saturday, Dina, Egypt’s most famous belly dancer, slinks on to the stage of Haroun el Rashid Night Club wearing a revealing pink outfit, accompanied by the sound of her trademark music.

Without an introduction she eases into her routine, gyrating her hips and rolling her stomach in slow, sensual motions, gradually raising the tempo with ever more daring and titillating movements of her thighs and torso.
The audience, made up of upper class Egyptians, Gulf businessmen and tourists as well as a smattering of westerners, is enthralled.

Dina is practising an art that dates back to the Pharaohs, but belly dancing, or raqs sharqi, is these days more often condemned as immoral than celebrated as a national pastime, as religious conservatism grows in Egypt.

In May, Dina caused an uproar after giving a brief performance at a high school party. Apart from the storm that ensued in the media, 17 Islamist and independent lawmakers filed an urgent inquiry with the education minister, and Nabih al Wahsh, a well-known lawyer, filed a lawsuit against her for “seducing students”.
Ali Laban, a legislator and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, called for talks with the culture, education and interior ministers, while Sherif Omar, who heads the education committee in parliament and is a member of the ruling National Democratic Party, referred to the incident as a “catastrophe”.

Dina, in her forties and who goes only by her first name, was taken aback by the reaction, though it is far from the first time her dancing has raised the ire of conservatives.
“When I heard that my dancing for five minutes while wearing a jeans and T-shirt in the prom party [caused such offence], I was shocked,” she said, sipping a cappuccino and smoking a cigarette in the cafe of the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel in Cairo, where she performs three times a week.

“Sometimes I feel I get used to these things, but I don’t, because they never cease to amaze me,” she said.
In Oct 2006, Dina was widely blamed – by officials, the media and the public – after scores of young men chased women through downtown Cairo groping them and pulling off their clothes – even those wearing Islamic headscarves and face veils.

Part 2-
She had been dancing with a popular singer in front of a downtown cinema to advertise a movie that was playing during Eid, and allegedly aroused the men, causing them to run riot.
“This accusation made me laugh,” Dina said. “I couldn’t believe I could be responsible for unleashing a sexual uprising by hundreds of men. It’s just unbelievable.”

Famed for her green eyes, long black hair, and voluptuous figure, sculpted by more than 20 years of dancing, Dina is now one of the only well-known belly dancers in Egypt.

“I see no hope or future for belly dancing in Egypt,” she said. “Ten years ago we were so many. Each one had her own style and audience, whether first-class belly dancers, or second and third class. Now I look around and see nobody.”
According to the Egyptian Arts Authority, 5,000 professional belly dancers were registered in the 1950s, compared with less than 100 today.

While belly dancing is legal, dancers cannot perform on state-owned television in Egypt. And in an attempt to reduce the number of dancers, authorities are giving fewer licences to foreigners and making it difficult for them to renew existing ones..

Police also monitor nightclubs to ensure that dancers’ costumes are sufficiently modest, with slitted skirts that must start below the knee. The navel is always supposed to be covered, if only by transparent material.
According to Dina, who holds an master of arts in philosophy from Cairo University, the belly dancing outfits are the main cause of controversy in Egypt, rather than the dance itself.

“I think the problem some have with belly dancing here is the dancing costume; but it has always been seductive like this, we [our generation] didn’t invent it. Like ballet – can the ballerina dance with a different outfit? We too can’t dance with our bodies covered,” she said.
Wearing a beige tank top and tightfitting pants, and a golden necklace studded with blue charms, Dina said it was becoming increasingly difficult to be accepted as a belly dancer in Egypt, where 90 per cent of Muslim women wear the veil and the trend towards conservative Islam is growing.

“If I had a daughter, I would advise her not to become a belly dancer,” said Dina, who is a widow and the mother of an eight-year-old boy named Ali.
“It’s very tough being a belly dancer in Egypt.

“I surround myself with people who love dancing, and who are very understanding, so I don’t get the feeling that I’m doing something wrong at all,” she said. “But when these problems happen from time to time, it’s a reminder that many people look down on dancing, and that it’s [seen as] shameful.”

Part 3
Yet demand for belly dancing in Egypt is still high among those who approve of it, especially among the rich who can afford to pay the LE12,000 per hour (Dh8,250) rate that Dina and her band charge to perform at private functions.
“I still dance at many weddings,” Dina said. “Most of the brides are veiled but they don’t stop dancing with me and their groom all night long. For Egyptians who can afford it, a wedding means a belly dancer.”

Suha Abdel Wahab, 30, is one such Egyptian. “Of course I would never imagine myself being a belly dancer,” Mrs Wahab said. “But I had Dina at my wedding, that was a dream come true.”

Still, people like Mrs Wahab seem to be the exception.
“At my wedding, I slaughtered sheep and distributed to the poor, by the same amount of money that I would have paid to a belly dancer,” said Rasha Moustafa, 29, who wears the veil.

“I think God would bless a marriage that begins by feeding the poor not wasting money on belly dancers.”

Nonetheless, in the face of growing disdain for her profession, Dina sees herself as “the guardian of belly dancing”, and vows to continue doing what she loves.
“Belly dancing is in our blood, it’s deeply rooted in our soil,” she said. “I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

“When I get old, and can’t dance anymore, I will train belly dancers. I just hope there will be ones to train.”

thanks for posting.
Dina seems to get blamed for so much.

Originally Posted by norma

Belly dancer fears her art is dying
Nadia abou el Magd, Foreign Correspondent
Last Updated: June 30. 2008 10:16PM UAE / GMT

Dina, Egypt’s most famous belly dancer, performs at the Haroun el Rashid Club in the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel in Cairo. Victoria Hazou for The National
CAIRO // At about 2.30am on a Saturday, Dina, Egypt’s most famous belly dancer, slinks on to the stage of Haroun el Rashid Night Club wearing a revealing pink outfit, accompanied by the sound of her trademark music.

Without an introduction she eases into her routine, gyrating her hips and rolling her stomach in slow, sensual motions, gradually raising the tempo with ever more daring and titillating movements of her thighs and torso.
The audience, made up of upper class Egyptians, Gulf businessmen and tourists as well as a smattering of westerners, is enthralled.

Dina is practising an art that dates back to the Pharaohs, but belly dancing, or raqs sharqi, is these days more often condemned as immoral than celebrated as a national pastime, as religious conservatism grows in Egypt.

Just love it how Dina is described as "slinking," "gyrating," "daring" and "titillating." These are all my favorite words to describe what I do at birthday parties and family events!

Oh, and BD is pharonic in origin . . . and we can prove it, too!

Religious conservatism is growing in Egypt: Saudi Arabia is sending "missionaries" to spread the "true religion" to Egypt and some of that cultural stuff is already having an impact in more areas of life than just on Cairo's stages.

..cr.:

<sigh>

Deborah

Norma, what publication did this come from?

great article. im furious at the blame being put on her for mens actions. its ridiculous.

I wonder how unsafe it is for Dina... if she's getting that much blame, I hope she has good security.

This was very intereseting to read. Thank you for posting.

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Just love it how Dina is described as "slinking," "gyrating," "daring" and "titillating." These are all my favorite words to describe what I do at birthday parties and family events!

Oh, and BD is pharonic in origin . . . and we can prove it, too!

Deborah

Ha, I had the same reaction to the article. Loved hearing what Dina had to say, but didn't much care for the writing style. I thought it was ironic that the article seemed to be saying that religious conservatism is irrational to stomp out the art of belly dancing, but at the same time, the author kept using descriptive terms that seemed to say, "Yes, but belly dancing is slutty."

Oh, and my first thought was that in all the videos I've seen, I would never describe Dina, with her bold personality on and off stage, as "slinking" anywhere.

Very interesting article. Makes me sad. It seems we women will always get our power, sexual and otherwise, taken away from us. Even in "modern" society.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Norma, what publication did this come from?

I don't know. A friend forward it to me. She got it from someone who lives overseas.

Originally Posted by Zamira

I thought it was ironic that the article seemed to be saying that religious conservatism is irrational to stomp out the art of belly dancing, but at the same time, the author kept using descriptive terms that seemed to say, "Yes, but belly dancing is slutty."

something wasn't jiving with me when i read this - i think that was it.

Originally Posted by Zamira

Ha, I had the same reaction to the article. Loved hearing what Dina had to say, but didn't much care for the writing style. I thought it was ironic that the article seemed to be saying that religious conservatism is irrational to stomp out the art of belly dancing, but at the same time, the author kept using descriptive terms that seemed to say, "Yes, but belly dancing is slutty."

The writing style doesn't surprise me, considering that the writer has an Arabic name. I think it's entirely plausible that the woman who wrote the article disapproves of belly dancing, but found herself assigned to write about it. So we see the contrast of Dina's pro-dance position and the author's anti-dance position.

The author's point of view is actually the prevailing one in Egypt, and has been for many years. I have a Tahia Carioca movie from the 1950's (Inspector General) in which Tahia's character, a former dancer who married a village mayor to get away from the nightclub life, is fighting with her stepdaughter. Tahia's character asks, "What's wrong with dancing?" and the stepdaughter replies, "Nothing, it's just SHAMEFUL."

Read the book A Trade Like Any Other for a lot more on this subject. Or, hire me to come present my lecture/video workshop Oriental Dance: Egypt's Shameful Profession in your community! (Sorry, couldn't resist the shameless self-promotional plug!) ..g.:

Someone forwarded me this email and I thought I'd share it with you all here. By the way, I've recently been watching a lot of youtube videos of the Golden Era dancers and I have to say I was pretty disgusted. As you know most of the film that we have of the great dancers are from movies. Almost every scene the dancer is dancing for a man or a group of men and they are leering at her. I never really noticed that before. No wonder the average citizen views a dancer as shameless.

---------------
Hi all,

I just spent last week with Dina and an few other up and coming dancers of Cairo. I myself was thrilled to see the new talent and o boy what new talent it is. My thoughts during that week was that belly dancing in Egypt is not dying, it’s reviving itself. As a whole it will continue to reinvent itself whether by costumes (presentation), music selection, fusion of other dance genres, or just good solid trained dancers. I am very optimistic about the future and yes, there will be the minority who despises Dina and others. Articles like this only tell half the story. I think the author left out the positive attributes that dance brings to the people of Egypt as a whole. When I go and watch Dina perform…packed mainly by local people not foreigners.

As long as we continue to love the art form, they will continue to support it too. It’s about education and ethnic identity. And if you walk down the streets of Cairo and ask anyone about their dancers, 90% would say they love them but won’t want their daughter to be one. It is the strength and sensuality that causes such a tongue and check reaction. Dina is very strong and powerful within her society. It’s just easier for the men to point blame at her instead of their own improper behavior. Cowards!!

Joette

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Norma, what publication did this come from?

Here is the direct link from The National online.
Belly dancer fears her art is dying - The National Newspaper

Seriously, when will men, all men from all countries and religions, take responsibility for themselves and decide it's high time they control their "excitement"? I get soooo tired of the "men have needs" attitude. Really, and women don't? Sheesh!

It seems rare the man (and in many cases, woman) who really sees belly dance as an art form without underlying sexual connotations. Sure, there are dancers who make it that, but a great dancer a true professional does not.

I had a good laugh the other day when two male Syrian friends of mine got into a debate about belly dance the sensuous art form versus belly dance the sexual dance form... I thought Syrian A was going to launch off the couch, leap over the hookah and strangle Syrian B for calling it a dance just short of a strip tease! That was certainly one of our more lively and passionate conversations! ..l;,

Does anyone know if there are any "up and coming dancers from Egypt?" It would be so sad for dancing there to end.

loved reading your post
thank you

One question I wish the journalist would've asked Dina: why if you have to cover navel and slit shouldnt be above the knee, why your costume wasnt like that when I saw you dance ( a.k.a gyrating ).
i have always wonder what she would answer to that.

seems that every earticle in english i read about bd, the word Gyrating is used. I am tired of gyrating and titillating after my classes and gigs ..l;,

I loved reading this thread. Thank you for posting it Norma.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

The writing style doesn't surprise me, considering that the writer has an Arabic name. I think it's entirely plausible that the woman who wrote the article disapproves of belly dancing, but found herself assigned to write about it. So we see the contrast of Dina's pro-dance position and the author's anti-dance position.

The author's point of view is actually the prevailing one in Egypt, and has been for many years. I have a Tahia Carioca movie from the 1950's (Inspector General) in which Tahia's character, a former dancer who married a village mayor to get away from the nightclub life, is fighting with her stepdaughter. Tahia's character asks, "What's wrong with dancing?" and the stepdaughter replies, "Nothing, it's just SHAMEFUL."

Read the book A Trade Like Any Other for a lot more on this subject. Or, hire me to come present my lecture/video workshop Oriental Dance: Egypt's Shameful Profession in your community! (Sorry, couldn't resist the shameless self-promotional plug!) ..g.:

Agreed! Based on my observations over the last few years in Egypt, I agree also with the email from someone who had recently spent time with Dina and some up and coming dancers that there is a small determined group of dancers both estblished and up and coming who will see that the tradition continues. This past summer, spending time before, during, and after Ahlan Wa Sahlan with Raqia Hassan and other Egyptians, I had the same impression as the author of that email. Raqia, her students, other dancers, such as Dina, Randa, and Dandash, are determined to keep on dancing and teaching no matter what the "conservatives" think. I don't think the art is dying, just going through a very low period. Most cultural phenomena seem to go through cycles and raqs sharqi is no exception. I think it will survive and revive but we can't predict how low or how high it will go.

I feel there are cycles to everything. Middle Eastern Dance certainly experiences it in the USA - why would it not be the same in Egypt? The ebb and flow of life certainly bleeds over into everything else. The changes are inevitable. Being flexible enough to survive the low times will make the peaks all the more joyous. When I feel things are at a low point I try to focus on the fact that I must be much closer to the next peak.

Ah, here is a nice Zombie thread from just 2 years ago. Is Belly Dancing Dead????

Still an interesting question to ask as we continue our debate about Dina's dancing and her costumes plus the attitude of the general public in Egypt, the U.S. and our various European counter parts.


I like checking the "Similar Threads" posted at the bottom of the page . . . it brings up some great and not-so-great oldies.

Originally Posted by cbarros

Ah, here is a nice Zombie thread from just 2 years ago. Is Belly Dancing Dead????

Still an interesting question to ask as we continue our debate about Dina's dancing and her costumes plus the attitude of the general public in Egypt, the U.S. and our various European counter parts.


I like checking the "Similar Threads" posted at the bottom of the page . . . it brings up some great and not-so-great oldies.

Interesting question... I had never seen this thread before. Thanks!
By the way, I didn't know Dina was a widow...

I read this before, i can't remember where...

i dunno, the feel of this article is weird. It seems to be written by a western, but a western that does not come from inside the dance community. Which can be noted by the way she chooses to refer to the movements and costumes.

I've heard that competition is stiff in Egypt, but not that there are no dancers around. I seriously doubt there is little future for this dance. New dancers with their own twist come out all the time and create a new rage. Randa, Soraya ext...

But unless you live there, spend a good amount of time there, or speak with someone who does, you probably won't know...

Is belly dancing dead?

well I guess that all depends on what an individual refers to as 'belly dancing'.

Worldwide belly dancing is as popular as ever, there are more festivals than ever before and there are some new faces appearing in Cairo like Aziza.

If people have a particular idea about what constitutes belly dancing.. and that is all tied up in the golden age style of the silver screen then yes, this style is dead along with most of the dancers who performed it.

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

If people have a particular idea about what constitutes belly dancing.. and that is all tied up in the golden age style of the silver screen then yes, this style is dead along with most of the dancers who performed it.

Some of the dance survives in music videos and movies with mainstream musical content. It's not usually a dancer in a two-piece costume, but there is still a lot traditional dancing being done (although a lot of fused, Westernized dancing, too). Then again, many of the song-and-dance routines in the old movies weren't meant to be "Grand Art." They were aimed for mass-market appeal. Wouldn't you say that some actress or dancer bopping around while Tamer Hosni or Mustafa Amar serenades her in a contemporary movie is the logical cultural progression from the "classical" swing-and-sway with Samia and Farid?

Hi Tourbeau,

I am not talking so much about 'traditional dance' as opposed to fusion but a certain 'golden age' style which only exsists in certain practitioners these days.

If people are looking for the 'old' style, then you are not going to see too much of it unless someone is deliberately creating that style. There are some people who dedicate themselves to this style, but generally speaking the style has changed and evolved.

Belly dance in general is still alive, but this is what I was reffering to to when I said 'it depends on how you define 'belly dance'.

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

...... and that is all tied up in the golden age style of the silver screen then yes, this style is dead along with most of the dancers who performed it.

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

.....
If people are looking for the 'old' style, then you are not going to see too much of it unless someone is deliberately creating that style. ....

i'm very happy that there is so much of it on film. we're not so lucky with film of it's predecessors, but this style can be re-created because of it's documentation. so in a sense it is very hard for it to "die out".
i think a certain amount of change is more than inevitable, but part of the dance. since part of the dance is expressing the self and the self is shaped by experiences of course we don't dance like people form the 1940s. those changes are more true to the dance than imitation. although i am very interested in learning to express current circumstances with the language of the golden era style. (i have an idea for a golden era show, involving shadows of dancers behind a scrim and a dancer made up to look like she's back and white dancing in front of it, towards the end of the opening number the first dancer leaves quickly while the scrim opens and everything becomes in color, like traveling back in time....... copyright! ^_~)