Description
Book Synopsis This book is an exploration into the history, aesthetics, social reality, regulation, and transformation of dance and dance music in Egypt. It covers Oriental dance, known as belly dance or danse du ventre, regional or group-specific dances and rituals, sha''bi (lower-class urban music and dance style), mulid (drawing on Sufi tradition and saints'' day festivals) and mahraganat (youth-created, primarily electronic music with lively rhythms and biting lyrics). The chapters discuss genres and sub-genres and their evolution, the demeanor of dancers, trends old and new, and social and political criticism that use the imagery of dance or a dancer. Also considered are the globalization of Egyptian dance, the replication or fantasies of raqs sharqi outside of Egypt, as well as the dance as a hobby, competitive dance form, and focus of international dance festivals.
Trade ReviewCloses a multitude of holes in our understanding, eliminates the need to rely on colonialist wish-story...important, well-written chronicle." —Carolina Varga Dinicu a.k.a. "MOROCCO," dancer/choreographer
"Finally! I begged Sherifa to write a book on the dance and music of Egypt--especially contemporary after the Golden Era. And she did. What a service to our dance and music community. Thank you!" —Amina Goodyear, dancer, teacher, musician, producer
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Introduction and Notes on Music and Transliteration
One. The 'Awalim's Path to the Sala
Two. From the Sala to the Silver Screen and Beyond
Three. Ya Dall'a, Ya Dall'a: Demeanor and Flirtation
Four. Mulid: Reinvigorating Spiritual and Popular Legitimacy in Egyptian Music and Dance
Five. From Sha'bi Music and Culture to Mahragan Dance Music
Six. Al-Raqs al-Sha'bi wa al-Musiqa Sha'biyya: Egypt's Regional Particularist Dances and Music in Transition
Seven. Bad, Bad Baladi: Sama al-Masry and Dance as Sarcasm
Eight. Globalization of Egyptian Dance
Glossary
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
