Interview with Sylvia
"Paris by Night"
by Laila Bouhouch

Interview with Sylvia, a new star of oriental dance.
Laila:
Which is your nationality ?

Sylvia:
I am French, born in a suburb of Paris.

Laila :
Which is your level of study ?

Sylvia :
I have taken courses in school in arranged schedule : "sport option classical dance, music and chant". It means courses the morning and the rest the afternoon up to the night.

Laila :
Since which age do you dance ?

Sylvia :
I started to study classical ballet when I was 2 years old. I use to have a medical problem. I was so flexible that my knees were always dislocated. The doctor told me to do some gymnastics because I need muscles. I asked him if I can dance instead of gymnastics. He said "dance or gymnastic, it is the same". Then, my parents did every thing to find a teacher who will accept a child so young. After this, I never stoped dancing. I learnt African dance, Brazilian dance, tap-dancing, rock' n roll, cha-cha, tango, samba, rumba, Paso, modern jazz, Georgia dance, French can-can, and of course oriental dance! I took some workshops of flamenco, sevillana, Afro-Brazilian and character dance. About music, I learned piano, drum, flute and the rudiments of music. I was soprano in a choral and for finishing I did theatre!

Laila :
Why did you choose oriental dance ?

Sylvia :
I did not choose it, this dance choose me! I was completely attracted by it. I went to visit Egypt in December 1995 as a tourist. I saw a show of oriental dance. I was immediately fascinated by this music and this dance. The dancer invited me to dance. I was in my element. It was curious… It was the first time that I was feeling something strange. The dancer ask me "how long did you learn oriental dance ?", I said "I never learn it!". She did not believe me! At this moment, I decided to travel again to Egypt to learn this fabulous dance! I took also courses with several French teachers in Paris.

Laila :
Where did you dance ?

Sylvia :
I started to dance at the UNESCO, in Paris. Then, I went to Egypt where I made a tour in July up to October 1997. I danced in the best hotel with musicians and singers meeting there. I had excellent memories of this tour. Everything was great, the bad and the wonderful moment. But do not think that everything was only good! For example, dancing all the night in stifling heat (also at 4 a.m.), driving 300 kilometers in the desert, dancing 2 hours and again driving 50 kilometers to an other hotel… etc… I was not sleeping well since 12 am. After, I was dreaming on the beach where I said hello to the red fish! The sea was superb! About great moment, I met all nationalities of people, the great opportunity to dance every night, this life so different from Paris, the smile of all Egyptians, the beach the afternoon… I perfected my English and learnt more on their culture and language. I did more than 110 performances and driving more than 12000 kilometers! After that, I danced for the French television (Art TPS), at the Arabic institute, the festival of dance in Paris, a contest of choreography where I was selected, the house of Tunisia, the festival of Marrakech in Morocco, in Spain, in Normandy, in Paris, in the suburb for gala, shows, private party, wedding, birthday, theatre… etc….

Laila :
Do you think that oriental dance was more difficult to learn than others ?

Sylvia :
Every dances are different but we have easiness with this dance or an other. For oriental dance, I think It is inside me since my birth! Sometimes, people say that I used to be an oriental dancer in an other life! (laugh) It doesn't mean that I did not work. I am always performing in Paris because I can never finish learning. My secret is that I assimilate very fast. After 3 months of courses, I was with advanced students who were studying many years! It is also because I learned first classical ballet. It helps to have a good maintaining. For teaching correctly, I took a pedagogy workshop of 6 months.

Laila :
Do you mix oriental dance with other types you learned?

Sylvia :
No, I let it like it must be, I mean beautiful and neat. I know that it is the fashion to mix every thing. But oriental dance is oriental dance. If I was mixing, I would spoil it. This is my point of view for the moment. Perhaps, I will change my mind, who knows?

Laila :
Who are your favorite dancers ?

Sylvia :
I love Kamellia (France), Naïma Akef, Tahia Carioca and an Egyptian dancer I met in Egypt, Leila Gamal.

Laila :
Do you teach ?

Sylvia :
Yes, but only workshops because I am too busy. I would love to create an oriental ballet so I am preparing the choreography.

Laila :
When you started to dance in the shows, what was your first surprise?

Sylvia :
The ambience. It is so different than shows of classical ballet, modern' jazz or others. In oriental dance, the audience is with you. They are singing, they are dancing, they are shouting youyous… People are clapping when they appreciate a move! They are telling you immediately. There is some people who wake-up and dance on their seats! They participate totally. It is so great… I love that!

Laila :
What do you prefer in oriental dance?

Sylvia :
I love every thing! I love to dance with sagat, veil, cane, the baladi (awadi), golfe dance and solo tabla.

Laila :
Do you like to dance with musicians?

Sylvia :
Of course, I prefer to dance with musicians. It is more intense as well for me than the audience.

Laila :
Which kind of music do you prefer?

Sylvia :
I love to dance on the music of Omm Khaltoum, Farid Al-Atrache, Mohamed Abdelwahab and Hakim.

Laila :
Do you dance now ?

Sylvia :
Yes, I dance in private party or theatre. I take care of what people propose to do. I do not want to dance in in certain places. I refuse every contract that is not stage dance. It is a question of reputation. I do not want to hear people saying "Ah! Sylvia, I know her! She dances everywhere!!!"

Laila :
Do you earn a lot of money? (laugh)

Sylvia :
The beginning is always difficult. I haven't been dancing for a long time, like other dancers… I also buy a lot of costumes but it is correct.

Laila :
Are you ambitious ?

Sylvia :
Yes, to be the best !!! The dream! (laugh) I work so much for that, perhaps one day… Incha Allah !

Laila :
What is your advice to women who want to start oriental dance ?

Sylvia :
I will tell them to take first courses of classical ballet to learn the maintaining of the arms, head, body… Even for the mental, there is a serious discipline. It is really important to be assiduous. You must go to courses even if you are ill. You must forget your pain and beat it! When you are dancing in a show, you have to smile even if you have problems or not! You must be the best for your audience. For my part, I used to dance with a stiff neck for classical dance. As I was dancing tap-dancing, I had 39°C of temperature and I broke my feet in the end of the show. My parents had seen me in a stretcher in an ambulance! But, I had finished the show!

Laila :
Would you like to produce a video later?

Sylvia :
Yes, of course, and a lot of them! I know what I want to do but now I do not have the time, so I will do it later.

Laila :
Do you see a difference between Egyptian dancers and foreign dancers?

Sylvia :
There are some great dancers in every country but nowadays there are not too many Egyptian dancers. Their family or their husband do not like to see them dancing in a audience. For them, it is vulgar and they can lose their reputation. In Egypt, this dance is transmitted by mothers to daughters. They dance when men are not there. They are dancing in weddings, baptisms, but in a dress with a veil on their hips. In other countries, there are a lot of schools where you can learn everything on this great dance. It is easy to create more choreographies.

Laila :
Do you prefer to dance in a oriental atmosphere or in a foreign one?

Sylvia :
In a foreign countries, the audience loves our wonderful costumes, or, the dancer… But in Egypt, they understand this dance. They know the music and they love to see foreign dancers performing their art! It is their culture. I prefer both because It is pleasant.

Laila :
When did you take your first lesson ?

Sylvia :
I take my first course in 1996, after 3 months I was dancing in a audience at the UNESCO!

Laila :
What did you feel this first time?

Sylvia :
I was comfortable! I was in my element!

Laila :
What about the audience?

Sylvia :
They love it! I had a lot of youyous. When a dancer is relaxed, people feel it in the dance.

Laila :
If the audience did not like your performance will you continue?

Sylvia :
Of course! I will continue in this way because I love that. It is a passion. By the way, there is no reason to not love this dance!

Laila :
When you were in Egypt, did people know that you were French?

Sylvia :
No! No-one! Moreover, when I finish a show people were all coming to ask me this question. They gave me all nationalities : Tunisian, Egyptian, Spanish, American, Italian… When I answered that I was French, they were all surprised. (very)

Laila :
Did you have overtures?

Sylvia :
Yes, of course. The best thing to do is to refuse and explain that you are here for dancing only.

Laila :
Would you like to ad something?

Sylvia :
Yes, I would like to say that every dancer is interesting. It is not possible to love only one dancer! Each person has their favorite one, so, It is difficult to be loved by everyone. Sometimes, there is some jealousy and it is going far in nastiness and stupidity. I know what I am saying because I was victim of those kind of people… Hugs to all readers !

Laila's note :
I was so amazed and touched by this entrancing woman. I was impressive by her multiple experience. I thought that I was speaking to a woman which have had more than 40 years of careers ! She is only 20 ! She took also drum courses. She learnt so faster ! She will take Arabic lesson to be well-understood by Arabic people. I use to see her dancing in videos and shows. She has a perfect technique. I am sure now that a wonderful dancer can be very young. She proves it ! Generous, Sylvia never hesitates to dance free in hospital or association. I thank Sylvia for the fun that she gives and her mum who always film her daughter while performing.


CONTACT :
Phone/ fax : 01.47. 49. 30. 47.
Mobile : 06. 68. 54. 83. 82.
E-mail : l.bouhouch@lemel.fr