Egyptian Bellydancer

Another Raks Assaya dance. She does floorwork for 15 seconds which is unheard of in Egypt since it was banned in the 50's for being too risque.

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'.

An example of the women's version of the Saidi Cane Dance

Khariya Maazin - Ghawazee

Khariya Maazin the last living survivor of the Maazin Ghawazees. The Ghawazees are tribe of dancing girls in Egypt. They are the precursor to bellydancing.

I wish the clip was longer to show their full movement range but their dance is characterized fast, up and down hip movements accompanied by the stomping of their feet. She doesn't do it in this clip though.

Egyptian belly dance - Saidi

Mahmoud Reda's troupe performing Raqs Baladna Saidi. Saidi is performed in the Egyptian countryside. It's a folkdance as opposed to cabaret (raqs il sharqi) which you commonly see in the nightclubs of Cairo. I love how they're perfectly in sync!