Thread: Nile group in April??

Is anyone going to the Nile Group festival next month??
I'm anxiously waiting for the income tax return so I can get airfare & registration paid for

I just got a note saying the April Nile Group festival has been cancelled. I guess I'll have to wait till June or November (and I already have my ticket)

Thank you for letting us know. That is unfortunate, but it does settle my challenges of what i am doing in April. I'll be home for most of my son's spring break!

{{{HUGS}}}

I think there are a few of us who are still considering going over. I bought my ticket & so did another friend of mine. We could do some private classes, actually do some real sight seeing during the day and visit all the Ateliers

Would love to hear from any of you who are currently living in Cairo

Thanks!!!
Magz

Contact Astryd re details. She lives in Cairo and Dubai and would be a great source of info.

Astryd Farah deMichele ~ International Middle Eastern Dance Artist

Originally Posted by magdelenam

I think there are a few of us who are still considering going over. I bought my ticket & so did another friend of mine. We could do some private classes, actually do some real sight seeing during the day and visit all the Ateliers

Would love to hear from any of you who are currently living in Cairo

Thanks!!!
Magz

Yasmina of Cairo

Yasmina has a lovely B&B . I'm sure there's a thread on here about it. I'll get the link.

Cairo reminder

We have a place to stay - thats not a problem.

What I am interested in is getting around town. My Arabic is not that great (but not terrible either). I would like to avoid the whole driver/taxi thing as the metro is so much easier but I just not sure about it now for western women...

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Yasmina of Cairo

Yasmina has a lovely B&B . I'm sure there's a thread on here about it. I'll get the link.

Cairo reminder

Originally Posted by magdelenam

We have a place to stay - thats not a problem.

What I am interested in is getting around town. My Arabic is not that great (but not terrible either). I would like to avoid the whole driver/taxi thing as the metro is so much easier but I just not sure about it now for western women...

Caroline Afifi has just been to Cairo and she may come on the forum to give you some idea. She has been posting notes on Facebook of how the trip went. I'm sure Yasmina will also give you an impression of what's going on at present. There's also Lorna Gow.(Off to have a look at her blog.) http://bellylorna.blogspot.com/

Originally Posted by magdelenam

We have a place to stay - thats not a problem.

What I am interested in is getting around town. My Arabic is not that great (but not terrible either). I would like to avoid the whole driver/taxi thing as the metro is so much easier but I just not sure about it now for western women...

The metro is absolutely fine. I was in Cairo a couple of weeks ago and we used the metro with no problem at all.

However, I did view using a taxi as a positive way to share a bit of wealth around- not that I had a huge amount of wealth to share! I felt it was better for the Egyptian economy to use taxis rather than the metro. We tended to use the white metered cabs, but always paid more than what the meter actually said, by way of tips.

Thanks Bea - We will probably do both while we are in town

Originally Posted by beafarhana

The metro is absolutely fine. I was in Cairo a couple of weeks ago and we used the metro with no problem at all.

However, I did view using a taxi as a positive way to share a bit of wealth around- not that I had a huge amount of wealth to share! I felt it was better for the Egyptian economy to use taxis rather than the metro. We tended to use the white metered cabs, but always paid more than what the meter actually said, by way of tips.

As you know the Nile Grop is canceled.

But there is many others in the same situation as you. They already got the ticket and are still coming here. I had several people emailing me during the last day or two. So you are not alone.

It's ok to come. Things are safe. Don't worry and tell your family and friends not to worry. There is still curfew (12pm-6am) so it limits a little bit of your night options. There isn't so much dance going on, but you'll be able to catch a show every evening if you like. Now things just start earlier so that every one can be home before curfew. Traffic and merto are safe. Use any transportation you like, just spend ALL of your money while in Cairo

I'll be back in Cairo on 8th of April. I'd be happy to teach private classes. You can contact me by email outi@outiofcairo.com . If you have any other questions about things in here at the moment, I'd be happy to help. If you like I can ask other dancers coming here, if they liked to have company. Just let me know.

Outi

It is a real shame about the Nilegroup festival. I saw that it had cancelled due to the situation in Japan but I seriously doubt that. The festival went ahead during some of the worst days in the modern history in Egypt so I cant understand why they cancelled last minute like this.

Like Outi says, there is not much dancing going on right now as you can imagine. The Pharoah has one sail at 8.00pm and the Maxim sails when enough people have booked. It is better to find out who is going from the festival and organise yourselves into groups.
The day is much shorter due to the curfew. I used to go 3 places in one night but this time is was just one and home by midnight. Haram st nightclubs have all been torched.

Everything else is open and we all felt perfectly safe. However, common sense should always be excersized when travelling anywhere in the world.

Cairo is very different right now and the Egyptian people are very pre-occupied with whats going on (as you would expect). It is a time of great uncertainty and you will be hearing of new terrifying rumours on a daily basis. People are genuinely traumatised by what has gone on. Most rumours you can ignore.. it is impossible to tell what is real or not. One example was I was staying with my daughter in Umrinaya and got a call to say the church had been set on fire and there was going to be big trouble and to stay in doors..I just happend to be driving past the church at that very second and it was perfectly intact. I followed the orders and missed seeing Outi the following day.. but the same day 14 people were killed in riots around salah Salem..all based on this rumour, it's tragic.

More Police are back now and the situation is improving every day.

One more thing, I would aviod hotels in the Downtown area close to Tahrir and stay in Doqqi instead. I know a few people who stayed in the Downtown area and the atmosphere was uncomfortable at times.

PS, I am thinking we need to start a new thread on post revolution trips to Cairo..? there is still alot to do and perhaps some of us who have already been can share more?

In many ways this is a great time to go as there are opportunities to do things you never had time to do before. Also many of the dancers are still there with more time on their hands to do workshops and organise parties with dancers etc.

Hey all! I am one of the people who has tickets to Cairo and no plan whatsoever yet, after I heard that NG festival is cancelled. I've decided to still go - finally I will have a good excuse to be more of a tourist and maybe even see stuff outside Cairo :) There will also be several other Estonian dancers, so if anyone wants to meet up and do stuff together, send me a PM!

Hi Safran,

That is absolutely the best thing to do. There are many dancers who are willing to have dancers parties etc. I went to one at Yasmina's which she organised for kay Taylors group and it was lovely.

It is the same situation when going to see the dancers on the boats.. going in a group ensures it sails etc.

The weather is lovely now and it's a great time to do loads of stuff.

About the festival cancelling due to situation in Japan. When I went, there were LOADS of japanese dancers there. Just guessing here but if it meant that 100 or more dancers had to cancel last minute, it might be difficult to go through with the festival.

I totally understand that.. so what will be different in June..and for Ahlan?

What about those who have already booked expensive flights and committed to the event?

There are ways of looking at a smaller venture which at least meets the needs of those committed. I doubt anyone will risk further bookings knowing the rug can be pulled at anytime.. it is a shame and I feel for those who have already parted with hard earned cash.

Yes, I hope they can get it up and running. There are many people wanting to go and many people get their income through these festivals as well. It is sad they had to cancel twice in a row but the first was very understandable.

I think we should start a new tread to see which bhuzzer will be be in town.

Outi - I think my travel partner Andrea already contacted you about Cairo. I do hope to see you while we are there - where are you performing?

Caroline - thank you for the insight. As always a little common sense goes a long way...

Safran - I sent you my email address - maybe we can see a show or do something fun as a group. I will be working to make arrangements over the next week or so

Hey Magdalena! Didn't get your e-mail address, but PM-d you myself. Let me know if the PM has reached you or not!

Yes, I think it is a good idea to start a thread 'who was going to the Nilegroup and will be in cairo' I and other dancers can suggest things to do in this thread.. I know Outi is en-route to the UK very soon so I'm not sure she will see this?

Outi is on the Pharpah as is Lorna Gow, Magda and Mona Ghazi.

Leila Farid is on the Maxim and Randa. Other dancers in Cairo can organise parties with musicans and book dancers to perform.

I had sent PM yesterday with my info. I did get you PM so I will email you

Originally Posted by Safran

Hey Magdalena! Didn't get your e-mail address, but PM-d you myself. Let me know if the PM has reached you or not!

Originally Posted by magdelenam

We have a place to stay - thats not a problem.

What I am interested in is getting around town. My Arabic is not that great (but not terrible either). I would like to avoid the whole driver/taxi thing as the metro is so much easier but I just not sure about it now for western women...

Raqia's folkloric festival is still on as far as I know see: Home and I also offer personalised tours/concierge service for dancers coming to Egypt (for individuals or groups) if you need assistance! I can be your personal guide- organise classes, shows, transport, translate etc whatever your bellydance wishes may be! you can email me on c_evanoff@hotmail.com
Cheers Caroline

Hi Caroline - I will be attending Raqia's festival on the 19th & 20th. It looks like it's going to be a good one! I'll be doing a few private classes as well.

What I would like t o find out about is where is Randa performing? I would love to see one of her shows

Off to pack
Cheers!

Originally Posted by carolineincairo

Raqia's folkloric festival is still on as far as I know see: Home and I also offer personalised tours/concierge service for dancers coming to Egypt (for individuals or groups) if you need assistance! I can be your personal guide- organise classes, shows, transport, translate etc whatever your bellydance wishes may be! you can email me on c_evanoff@hotmail.com
Cheers Caroline