Going to Cairo for 4 months...

[majda]

Hello!

So after a YEAR of waiting, I've finally gotten accepted into the American University of Cairo's study abroad program. I'm so excited I don't know what to do...except ask everyone who's been 'over there' about what to do dance wise. This is the trip of a lifetime for me, I want to learn as much as possible!

In addition to dance, I'm a violinist and I'd love to hear about any contacts to Arab musicians and teachers that I could study with. I'm going to sign up for the Arab music ensemble class at AUC, and I know there is a folkloric troupe on campus as well that I would like to get involved with.

But for off campus - where should I go? What shows should I go see? Who to take from? Where should I shop for costumes? I've already done a lot of research, but it's always to nice to hear about some see's and do's that aren't as well known but WELL worth it!

Thanks in advance for the advice and recommendations!

~Majda

[rakgirl]

when are you going? i'll be there in the fall.

[majda]

August 22nd to December 23rd ish - I'll be there a while! I'll be staying at the dorms on AUC's new campus in New Cairo.

[rakgirl]

a friend and i will be getting an apartment. i'm not sure where yet. but i'll be there then too.

[bintbeled]

Majda, be sure to check Meisson's and Outi's web pages for info on costume shopping. They're good places to start.

I would also recommend taking lessons with Raqia Hassan, because she seems to be "belly dance central" in Cairo. She knows everyone! She can introduce you to dancers, instructors, and musicians.

I was at AUC for the summer in 2000. It's hard to be up late with dancers and then be coherent in a 9 AM Arabic class... and I have to admit that I let the schoolwork slip a bit. (AUC tends to grade high so it didn't make too much of an impact.) I was there for Ahlan wa Sahlan, and spent quite a bit of time with Mo Geddawi and friends before and after. Bought some costumes from Amira al-Kattan at Pharaonics, did some lessons with Raqia, and went to see some shows. Also had some fun times with my classmates, and with local dancers. It was an amazing summer...

Latifa

[majda]

Oh cool! Thanks for letting me know your experience, so you did the Arab Language Institute?

I'm getting myself ready for the lack of sleep. I've heard the better dance shows start rather late...I will try to not have any 8 AM classes!

[*Shira*]

A good dance show to see is Lucy's performance at the Parisiana. Although the show supposedly starts around midnight, Lucy herself doesn't come on until much later, maybe around 3:30 am or so. But it can be entertaining to catch the complete show, because the last time I went the warm-up dance act was hilarious and gave me excellent material to post on the Ugly Belly Dance Costumes thread here on bhuz. It was called the "Golden Show" and was a peculiar mixture of Vegas showgirl style dancing and belly dancing.

The Nile Maxim (dinner cruise boat) usually has a good dancer. That's where I first saw Asmahan, and later Randa Kamel.

[bintbeled]

Originally Posted by majda

Oh cool! Thanks for letting me know your experience, so you did the Arab Language Institute?

I'm getting myself ready for the lack of sleep. I've heard the better dance shows start rather late...I will try to not have any 8 AM classes!

I did CASA. It really kicked my butt because my training had been as a translator and I was just not used to speaking. Luckily my teachers were kind, and my classmates helped out...

[cbarros]

I just saw an article about the AUC campus at New Cairo. It sounds like it is an hour outside of Cairo. I am getting the link for those that haven't heard about this . . . AUC is all moving out there and scheduled to open this summer . . . so I guess it will take you a little longer to get to downtown Cairo now.

Here's the article at NPR: University Creates Student Oasis in Egypt's Desert : NPR

And the architecture looks really cool!

Good Luck with your studies.

[cbarros]

And if you truly have some time to study with different teachers, don't forget Lubna Eman and Aida Nour and Leila and Yasmina and . . . . so many to choose from!!! The Nile Group Festival is in November, so you might want to check out what they are offering and try to squeeze in a class or two . .. or maybe Raqia's intensive in December, lol . . . that might be an all or nothing, but it is probably worth checking out.

[majda]

Yeah its about a 1.5 hour bus ride into down town Cairo from the campus...but it'll be faster apparently by taxi if you can get one.

[outi]

When you come, give me a call

Or if you need any help...

[majda]

Yay! I totally will!

[Midoria]

Originally Posted by majda

Hello!

So after a YEAR of waiting, I've finally gotten accepted into the American University of Cairo's study abroad program.

Congrats on your acceptance!

Waiting a year? Wow. Were you on some sort of waiting list? I was thinking about applying to do a semester or a summer study at AUC. Is this type of wait normal?

[leylalanty]

What Latifa (contact Raqia for lessons with her and others) and Shira (Lucy show and Nile Maxim) said. Outi, I believe, is performing on the Pharaon dinner cruise boat. Outi can correct me if her schedule has changed. Check with Raqia about who's performing where. She usually knows.

[majda]

He Midoria,

No, AUC just is just on its own time schedule. Georgia Tech's office of international education have not had the easiest time working with them. I deferred my trip in the fall because I wasn't able to get my acceptance letter before December 15th, and school would have started in February. There was no way I could get all of the paperwork down in time on campus in the middle of finals. You just have to be patient, and make sure your grades are above a 3.0, and be ready to do a lot of paperwork to make everything goes through okay!

[Midoria]

Originally Posted by majda

He Midoria,

No, AUC just is just on its own time schedule. Georgia Tech's office of international education have not had the easiest time working with them. I deferred my trip in the fall because I wasn't able to get my acceptance letter before December 15th, and school would have started in February. There was no way I could get all of the paperwork down in time on campus in the middle of finals. You just have to be patient, and make sure your grades are above a 3.0, and be ready to do a lot of paperwork to make everything goes through okay!

Well, such can be expected when you're dealing with the Middle East, even if many of the staff are American.

I was considering getting my M.A. in Middle/Near Eastern Studies, but wanted to try AUC out before applying to their Master's Program. I may hate Egypt, so I'm trying to avoid having to go through the hassle of transferring from AUC to regular AU. But it seems ideal to get a Middle Eastern Studies Degree in the actual Middle East.

Good Luck and have fun!