Raks Assaya

Egyptian men's cane dance or Raks Assaya is an exciting Egyptian folkoric dance performed with a cane. The dance has its roots in El Saiid or upper Egypt, south of the country. Originally a men's dance that prepared them to fight with warring tribes, the Raks Assaya was also often displayed at times of folkoric festivity. The dance required martial art like concentration and skill to wield long, heavy staffs called 'taktib'.