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Sofar this weekend is going very well. I got most of the things done that I wanted to do, like retrieving Jeoffrey's computer from mycom (which means a 20 minute walk with the computer on the back of my bike), returning stuff to the library, buying extra sequin fabric for the second melaya dress, traveling to Bussum for group practice and nailing the drum solo.

I think I deserve bonus points for updating my website, it took me three and a half hour to do basic stuff but I'm pretty pleased with myself. Hopefully I can create a new slideshow for the other website and maybe replace some of the pictures. Then again, it looks nice enough as is, so no worries.  I have some ideas for the next website update but I also want to run through the material on the website to remove spelling errors, add new pictures etc. The essence of internet is that it's always changing and that the quality of the information usually isn't high. So instead of investing in quantity I'd like to upgrade in quality. I'm sure that it won't be as popular as updating in quantity because it's less visible, but I'd be happier with the results in the long run.

dvd review - journey of desire

The workshop with Yasmina from Caïro was a pleasant suprise at the Raqs Congress. She's a beautiful dancer, both from the inside as the outside. I purchased the "Journey of desire' dvd from her and I finally had the time to watch it. First of all, I think this dvd is amazing. When I watched it, I felt like it transported me back to Caior. Even though I've been there for a couple of days, I could almost feel the dry heat and microscopic dust. I have to admire for what Yasmina is trying to convey: how she came to Caïro and made it as a professional dancer, but also the hurdles that she (and all foreign dancers) have to take if they want to perform in Egypt.

The story
the dvd starts with pictures of the english home where Yasmina grew up with Yasmina's voice telling us that at age fifteen she didn't want to be a professional dancer. So how did she end up in Caïro? I won't go into much detail, but the dvd touches several subjects that dancers are interested in, mainly:
- why do dancers want to dance in Egypt?
-what is the magical thing that Egyptian dancers have and foreigners don't?
-your own orchestra: how Yasmina treats hers, and the responsibility that comes with it.
-costumes (includes interviews with several costume designers like Amira El Kattan and Beata Cifuentes stating that:'if you're not good at dance, at least look good'.
-short bit about saidi including cute performance
-a totally weird bit about driving your car in Caïro that goes into a sort of shaabi/arabic MTV danceclip in a garage with Yasmina in a purple wig and disco costume.
-About the golden age of bellydance, belly dance movies and how they're still attractive after five decades. Followed by a golden era clip
-also : what happens if you get a permit and want to perform? Includes interviews with two agents, footage of Yasmina practicing back in 1995 with choreographer.

Interlaced is the story of a foreign dancer that tells us about the paperwork she has to go through to be allowed to dance.

Some things that annoyed me:
-no menu, so hard to flip through
-wonderful dancing, but the editing in several clips is very hectic
-the car driving part in Caïro doesn't fit well into the storyline and the fast forward footage of driving through Caïro is nice, but too long

I absolutely love this dvd and will probably watch it many times over. Also very nice to show to students if you want to explain the feeling that is attached to raqs sharqi in Egypt and most Arabic countries. While I was watching, Jeoffrey stoped and watched some parts with me. I tried to explain how raqs sharqi has the ability to touch all Egyptians and he ahd a hard time believing this. It's a strange concept to us, western people, how a whole country can cry when they hear a classic Oum Kolthoum song, or see a dancer express the music without doing visually complex stuff.

For future reference, I found interesting links about the dvd and about dancing in Caïro as a foreigner:
gilded serpent review
Meissoun - when the lights go out
how to get a dancingpermit in Egypt
sabirye- working in the middle-east
bellylorna - a scottish bellydancer in Caïro