Known as the capital for various forms of arts in the entertainment industry, Egypt has become known for its belly dancing providing an opportunity for female performers to advance the entertainment industry. Although there is a constant debate on the origins of belly dancing, the art was, and still is, eroticized by many travelers and tourists, some of which visit Egypt just to explore that scene. The origins of the dance in Egypt can be traced back to the 19th century, where there were two groups of women who participated in the entertainment industry; ‘awalim’ and ‘ghawazi’. The ‘awalim’ were a group of scholarly women who wrote poetry, sang songs and composed music, and improvised lyrics for ‘mawal’ or ballads, a feat they were highly valued for. They were an exclusive celebrity-like group who performed in the harems in the presence of women only, however their voices were audible by both women and men. The ‘awalim’ were not accounted for in any travelers’ book. Perhaps because the travelers have not been exposed to them. The other group of women were called ‘ghawazi’ who mainly danced unveiled in public spaces like…
From Ghawazi to Safiyya of Esna and Kuchuk Hanem: The History of Belly Dancing in Egypt
August 20, 2019
