by staff writer Nizana El Rassan Throughout the decades that I have been involved in studying, performing and teaching Middle Eastern dance styles, I have noticed less and less folkloric style workshops and performances. Many teachers have retired, such as Artemis Mourat, new styles have formed and branched out and many performers prefer cabaret or fusion style costuming and dancers.
I have interviewed the likes of Khadijah, Serkan, A’isha Azar (retired, but teaching sometimes) and Tarifa Salem who have kept the folkloric styles alive. I have studied Raqs el Assaya, Saidi, Khaliji, Turkish Roma, & Moroccan Shikhatt and plan to take another workshop with Khadijah this month, I am also excited to say there are still some instructors out there who are keeping folkloric styles alive such as the beautiful Dandash!
Nizana: Thank you for agreeing to do this interview, Dandash; I think this is a great fit for this folkloric issue. Tell us about yourself-I understand your parents were performers and you have been dancing most all of your life!
Dandash: Yes, my dear, I come from an artistic family and I danced from the age of 6 in my city of Alexandria, one of the cities of Egypt, and I became a star in the world of art and belly dancing at the age of 16. I finished my secondary studies in Alexandria and traveled to Cairo, and the name Dandash in the world of dance became distinguished by my own feeling and style in the midst of names that have their weight in the field of belly dancing.
Nizana: That is so wonderful, thank you for sharing this! I see you have some workshops coming up this year- please let us know what you have going on.
Dandash: Yes, I have workshops this year and several festivals in Egypt and outside the country as well, and lessons at the Dandash School for teaching dance. I also teach all types of dance and introduce students to the principles and steps of authentic Egyptian dance. And folklore, too.
Nizana: I am glad to see you are teaching a workshop that addresses the importance of folkloric dances and how they fit into a dance performance. When to recognize and respond appropriately to folkloric rhythms in the music are so important. Can you speak to that a little more and this particular workshop?
Dandash: I add that belly dancing is a fine art full of sincere feelings and strong feeling. I also work on wonderful, distinctive and original music. The dancing and feeling differ with the story of the music. God has given me this wonderful opportunity and beautiful talent. I thank God for it. Original belly dancing is completely different from folk dances.
Nizana: Thank you, I think our audience can appreciate that. What else do you have going on or have you done in your career?
Dandash: I have traveled all over the world. I study and dance, and I am always happy when I leave a mark and a distinctive artistic character that makes the viewer’s heart and feelings beat and get extremely excited to learn and search for this fine art. Thank you very much, my dear. I hope I answered your questions. It was a pleasure meeting you.
Nizana: What a wonderful dance career, it was a pleasure to meet you as well! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me for Fanoos Magazine!
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