At the end of Shakira’s 2006 tour, after more than an hour of witnessing her performance, the audience falls into a stillness as the intro of the iconic Egyptian song, Enta Omri (You Are My Life, 1965) by Umm Kulthum begins to play. The stage is cloaked in darkness, but two things continue to move: the notes of the electric guitar and Shakira’s body, flowing in harmony with every beat of the song. At this point in the concert, the long, iconic intro of Enta Omri dissolves into a cinematic dream, moving in sync with Shakira’s moves. It feels as if the song is speaking to you, each rhythm rising and falling like a poem. And like a poem, it builds to a dramatic close that lingers in the air, as Shakira lifts the veil around her head, poised on the edge before she begins to belly dance. But just when you think the poetry of the musical intro has reached its end, it shifts into an entirely new verse, one that feels more alive, more spirited. This is the moment Shakira begins to belly dance, and the arrangement…
