Almost every country in the world has its own national dance and dress, passed down through generations, encapsulating the very essence of what makes each culture unique. Most countries even have a variety of different folkloric dances that represent the nuanced differences of the various regions of the country. That being said, Egypt’s traditional folklore dance and dress is both fascinating and entertaining, perfectly capturing the country’s rich culture. Although folklore dancing may not necessarily be widely recognized or alive to this day – rather bellydancing takes the lead as a recognized national dance – it is still practiced, performed and celebrated on a smaller scale. There was a time however, during the mid-to-late 20th century, when Egypt’s folklore dancing was both highly regarded and widely recognized; this is in large part due to the wonderful Reda Troupe, which will be a point of focus later on in the article. Before we explore Egypt’s folklore dance and dress further, and how this artistic form of expression is integral to the maintaining of a society’s traditions and culture, we will take a look at a brief history of dance in Egypt….
Cultural Traditions in Dance & Dress: A Brief History of Egyptian Folklore Dancing
August 8, 2020
