The Stars of the Golden Era of Egyptian Dance.
During my years of dancing, it was pointed out to me a few times that the way I danced was simple and different from “current” dancers.
I was puzzled by such a comment at first as all I was doing was to follow in the footsteps of my virtual teachers.
They were the dancers from the Golden Era Stars of the dance in Egypt, and to me, they were not simple! Maybe not too flashy or complex, but never too simple.
In reality, they were incredibly rich in content and artistry, but not necessarily demonstrating too much physical effort. Which is in itself a very hard task!
First things first!
The first thing I learned from them was that I should be like ME, just as they were being themselves. I strived to follow their style of “precise & rich simplicity” to the best of my ability.
When we were blessed with the gift of YouTube, I became more aware of the different ways and approaches that grew in other communities of belly dancers that I was not so connected with.
I was very impressed by the physical capabilities of some dancers, how much hard work they had put into their craft. I can really appreciate the effort, as I do know how hard it is to master techniques that precisely.
Still, my heart continued and continues to beat with love for the Golden Era’s Style. Its unique, precise & rich simplicity that is not an easy task to master.
I have been studying and absorbing the style of dancers like Naima Akef, Samya Gamal, Taheya Karioka, Zeinat Olwi, Naemat Mokhtar and many others since 1996.
So simple...
By 2007 I felt ready to teach and share my understanding with my students as such a task needed this much care and time to be presented.
It is amazing how easy is to look at one of the Golden Era Dancers and say: “Oh that is so simple and easy!” Till you attempt to do it yourself! Not just similar to them, but really do it properly…that is something else.
The Golden Era Stars’s style of dance was not only about the movements and steps they used, or costumes, or looks.
It is about who they were and who they were “being” in the film and the representation of a culture in a period of time.
The role of a dancer is not to be only the sexy girl, as Naima Akef proved many times, but more of bringing beauty by dancing the music and representing the character.
Then and now...
The dance was presented as an art form, entertainment and expression, much like now. But at that time it seemed to me that dancers had much more respect from the Egyptian society than they have now.
I have heard from several Egyptians when asking their opinion about the dance, people not all involved with the dance.
They say that there is no more dancing like there was then. That is said with a feeling of longing and somewhat disappointment.
An admirable aspect that I have observed from studying this style is that it was never a competition of who can do more. But having the aim of being more individual and unique by being themselves; not by being like the other dancers and doing more than them or be stronger than them.
Just being themselves.
I guess if they were too busy trying to find out what others were doing in order to copy them, they would not have time to be as good as they were. So here is a tip… not for the month, but for always…
Do YOUR thing!!!
By all means, be inspired, be influenced – even be capable of doing what others do, but… be yourself!
Now that is a good style to have!!!!!!!!!
Ultimately, this is what the audience would want to watch and appreciate.
I do feel that currently, in regular education from the regular schools of dance, much technique and body motion is taught and also standardized.
This is all very good as all dancers need technical ability, understanding and training. However, I am not 100% sure of standardizing.
I believe in establishing the basics and developing techniques from there….but this is a subject for another text.
Moreover, as a dancer becomes more experienced and able she needs to dance as if it was dance poetry. Dance is the language of body and soul.
We need words and grammar, but first, we need thought and emotion to tell a story.
It's about the language...
The way you phrase and use the words is almost more important than the words themselves. Your accent while speaking the words that millions speak is what makes it yours.
The same applies to dance, just exchange the words for steps and movements and you have dance poetry.
Studying the above artists gave me a wide scope of vocabulary and diverse approaches, inspired by their own styles and artistry.
This helped me immensely in understanding how to make my own dance poetry.
The Stars
Naima
When a dancer learns the style of someone like Naima Akef, not only will she be learning the techniques and depths of Naima’s interpretation but also she will move away from her own habits. Challenge the anatomy of her own dance to accommodate the genius of Naima Akef: accuracy, perfect translation & perfect emotion in flight.
Samya
Once one delves in depth into the realm of Samya Gamal, one mey be surprised. To find that, what may seem to the inexperienced eye as, an imperfection and lack of creativity is far from the truth.
She transpires as an amazing visual illusion of being inaccurate, while the very opposit is taking place.
Taking a bite of every 16th beat of the music to enhance her interpretation. Capturing every nuance of the music composition, even with a flick of her hair.
That is Genius!
Endless source of inspiration
The list of dancers you can study is endless; from each of the ones mentioned above and others I have been immensely inspired and have learned a vast variety of movements.
Each one of them took me on a journey where I did not want to return.
Each dancer I have studied the style of, has widened the horizon of the ocean of knowledge that I have gathered.
They have made the dance as we know it today. Even where it seems so far from what they were doing… you will find their in influence there somewhere.
Today
Any of the dancers of today, definitely including myself, have learned from someone who learned from someone and so on, that have learned from the Stars of the Golden Era.
Therefore, learning directly from them is the closest anyone can get to learning from the real thing and to the dancers before them.
Who in their turn where probably even more genius for having inspired them and who inspire us today.
This is true in other styles of dances. Tap dancers truly acknowledge the amazing work of their masters Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powel, Ginger and many others.
In ballet, Lady Margot Fontaine and Rudolf Nureyev, Balanchine are revered till today – not thought as simple and out dated!!??
It is not only a matter of reference use, or because it is fashionable now to study vintage material.
It is because they are our history.
Our background and foundation, which without the understanding of, we have no basis to hold on to and the art form gets more watered down and altered.
Development is inevitable and also desirable, but not without a stable and solid foundation to stand upon.
Enjoy the roots and the beauty of a style that encourages individuality and self confidence. With an approach to dance where the impersonation of the music was of essence. These were very special times.
Be you, be the music, be your art!
We owe it to them and to ourselves.
Much love,
Serena
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