Thread: Best of Cairo: Teachers & Places to visit

I am taking a super quick trip to Cairo (one week I know but I am just getting out of college and tax season starts up and no vacation!)

Would anyone be willing to share their favorite teachers and places to visits (and costs if available?)

With "places" do you mean shops or cultural highlights?

MEISSOUN

The Gayer Anderson museum is interesting. It's a 15th-century Muslim house, so it has the courtyard, the harem with the little gallery that looks down on the courtyard so the women can watch whatever entertainments are there without themselves being seen, etc. It's also full of Oriental art objects from Turkey, Persia, etc.

Anything! Sounds interesting Shira!

Don't forget to check Meisson's webpage with info on where to buy costumes. And I don't think a trip to Cairo is complete without a visit to Fishawi's in Khan Khalili. Have some mint tea or karkadeh, smoke a shisha, and watch the world walk by.

Get in touch with British Dancer Yasmina - not only is she fabulous, she is very kind, and could help you. I am not sure what the set up is with fee structure etc. but check out her website. www.yasminaofcairo.com

I guess the pyramids are a given?

Khan el Khalili for shopping at Mahmoud's and Yasser's.

Raqia Hassan for at least one lesson.

Soraya at the Sheraton if you don't want to fork out the ridiculous price to see Dina. Randa would be a treat, I don't know where she's performing, though?

oooh ! Go to that hotel that you have to get the lift up to the club/restaurant in it, go with a friend and order the 'half a lamb' dish (I forget what it is called), can anyone help me out with the specifics? I saw Randa there, and my ears popped in the lift on the way up as the club/eatery was up so high.

Oh Yasser is a def and so is the K.K Market! Sky lift? Sounds like fun!

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

oooh ! Go to that hotel that you have to get the lift up to the club/restaurant in it, go with a friend and order the 'half a lamb' dish (I forget what it is called), can anyone help me out with the specifics? I saw Randa there, and my ears popped in the lift on the way up as the club/eatery was up so high.

Is this the windows on the world in the Ramses Hilton? Love this hotel!

I was there in June and saw a dancer that was not Randa. I know she dances some nights on the nile maxim along with Asmahan, you can't lose with either dancer.

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

oooh ! Go to that hotel that you have to get the lift up to the club/restaurant in it, go with a friend and order the 'half a lamb' dish (I forget what it is called), can anyone help me out with the specifics? I saw Randa there, and my ears popped in the lift on the way up as the club/eatery was up so high.

Does she dance at the Marriott?? I'm trying to remember what she told me when she was in Dallas. think she does the dinner cruise boat one night a week but is on it for different sailings. Of course, all things are subject to change.

What about teachers? Raqia Hassan, Leila, Dina,Mahmoud Reda, etc.? Does anyone know their rates?

Didn't Eshe recently post about her experiences? I may be wrong on the name...if you have a look through the forum she was staying in Cairo and only took classes with Raqia Hassan but I think she may have mentioned rates.

Originally Posted by cbarros

Does she dance at the Marriott?? I'm trying to remember what she told me when she was in Dallas. think she does the dinner cruise boat one night a week but is on it for different sailings. Of course, all things are subject to change.

Sorry it wasn't rhanda it was soroya - who used to be amazing, and had now improved !

Yes I've been following Eshe's blog. But there isn't much else out there on teachers!

Sorry guys! :) Amity, maybe you can write one about the other teachers around Cairo. xo

There are several teachers in Cairo - me included.
They all have different prices from 100 to 350 LE. If you take a lot of classes you may get a discount. Mona El Said is really expensive - 600 LE for an hour.

Best way is to first list all the teachers you want to have class and start calling them immediately when you arrive in Cairo. If someone is travelling, you will know it right away and can schedule something else.

I can give you contact information if you need.

By the way when are you planning to come here? If you are coming soon, I have a favour to ask.

Outi

can you bring back a few of outi's CDs for some of us?

Nothing like taking advantage of people's good nature. ..g.:

happy to paypal in advance...

Originally Posted by danidance

can you bring back a few of outi's CDs for some of us?

Nothing like taking advantage of people's good nature. ..g.:

happy to paypal in advance...

Ooh, I would love an Outi CD!!!

I'm going in Decemer (14ish to 23rd) I can bring cd's back and I can do you a favor if needed still by then!

I had a couple of privates with Aida Nour a few years ago but I can't remember the cost.

I've also done workshops with English Yasmina (but not in Cairo) and would think that you'd get bang for your buck with a one on one with her. She has studied a lot with Raqia and is quite an elegant dancer. If I'm not mistaken I believe there was something on her webbie about having a studio?

Dandash - I was in a workshop situation with her. I love her style and the ease with which she dances. I believe she isn't dancing any more but she may be teaching?

I think Dandash is back to dancing - didn't she do full-board costume at the last Nile Group?

Amity, I would love to take you up on the Outi CDs. Let's ask Outi how much them are buying there and then I can paypal you, I would want one for me and one for a gift.(but the one for me is the most important :)

Dandash is back dancing again. I saw her lovely "full-board costume" performance at Ahlan wa Sahlan, not Nile Group...g.: As of September, 2007, the Gilded Serpent Cairo Clubs page shows her dancing at the Mena House Nightclub. http://www.gildedserpent.com/calenda...Clubs.htm#mina
I'm SOOOOOO glad she's back on the stage again!

Originally Posted by bul_bul_ksa

I had a couple of privates with Aida Nour a few years ago but I can't remember the cost.

I've also done workshops with English Yasmina (but not in Cairo) and would think that you'd get bang for your buck with a one on one with her. She has studied a lot with Raqia and is quite an elegant dancer. If I'm not mistaken I believe there was something on her webbie about having a studio?

My question, of course, is why take lessons from Yasmina in Cairo when you could take lessons with her teacher, Raqia? I would try Raqia first. Then if Ragia is not in town or doesn't have any time slots, try Yasmina.

You could say that Leyla but Yasmina teaches with a lot of other info that is useful for non-Egyptians fully explained in her native English so you can really ask a million questions and get specific answers...I've had a workshops with Raqia as well (yes, different than one on one style) but I have to say that I don't think that if you take a class with Raqia it should necessarily rule out taking a class with Yasmina.

Ohh...a friend is off to Cairo this month...must tell them Dandash is back dancing!

Good point! Taking with both Raqia and Yasmina (or Outi) would probably be better. It is easier to pose the cultural questions to a foreigner who lives or has lived there and who speaks the same language as the questioner. I sometimes forget that not everyone has spent as much time there as I have and not everyone is able to visit as often as I do.

Originally Posted by bul_bul_ksa

You could say that Leyla but Yasmina teaches with a lot of other info that is useful for non-Egyptians fully explained in her native English so you can really ask a million questions and get specific answers...I've had a workshops with Raqia as well (yes, different than one on one style) but I have to say that I don't think that if you take a class with Raqia it should necessarily rule out taking a class with Yasmina.

Ohh...a friend is off to Cairo this month...must tell them Dandash is back dancing!

Outi-I Pmed you about the cd's...

Hi!

I didn't get your PM. Can you send it again?

Outi

The Citadel
Friday afternoon at the Mena House!
Fishawi's

Originally Posted by leylalanty

My question, of course, is why take lessons from Yasmina in Cairo when you could take lessons with her teacher, Raqia? I would try Raqia first. Then if Ragia is not in town or doesn't have any time slots, try Yasmina.

The advantage with Yasmina is that she would likely find time to give you lots of info and guidance outside of the dance as well as tuition.
She is indeed a lovely lady.