Kisses from Kairo
The Diaries of an American Belly Dancer in Cairo
by Luna of Cairo
As you probably know, life in Cairo isn't always easy for dancers, foreigners, women, or even Egyptians. It is, however, exciting. That’s why after living here for almost 3 years, I decided to share my experiences with the world. From being contracted at the Semiramis Hotel to almost being deported, not a day has gone by without something odd or magical happening. I will therefore fill these pages with bits of my history in Cairo—my experiences, successes, mistakes, and observations. My time here has been rather “unique,” so I want to stress that while everything I write is true, my experiences do not necessarily reflect the lives of other dancers.
I will write about developments in costuming, performances, festivals, and, of course, the dance itself. I will also make frequent references to Egyptian culture at large. This is the only way to truly understand what’s happening in the dance, and to make this blog accessible to dancers and non-dancers alike.
The posts in this blog will not be in strict chronological order. Instead, they will appear in the order in which I think of them. Many will be retrospective, as I was too busy living life at the time to record it.
* I have purposely misspelled Cairo as "Kairo" in the spirit of the countless English typographical errors on restaurant menus, traffic signs, and just about any piece of English writing. They never cease to draw a chuckle from me. ;) I should also note that if I make any criticisms about the country, I do so with the utmost love, respect, and most of all, honesty.
I hope you find this blog informative, insightful and entertaining, and that we can make this as interactive as possible. I'd love to hear from you. Send me your comments, questions, complaints, suggestions, pics, etc., and I will get back to you. Promise.
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