I'm Never Going to Dance Again...

Actually, that’s a lie. And I know that the next line to that George Michael song is “guilty feet have got no rhythm,” but that too, would be a lie. I love dancing. It’s in my blood. You see, Egyptians are some of the most gracefully rhythmic people; we are known to be the best belly dancers among the Middle East. No one can pop, shake, shimmy, or sway the way Egyptians can. I know I’m a little biased, but I can’t help my observations.

At almost every Egyptian wedding I’ve attended, the main attraction other than the happy couple is the dance floor and the occupants of it. It’s nothing like the high school prom where teenagers are “bumping-and-grinding” or getting their “freak on.” Arabic music and tubla (a Middle Eastern drum) solos doesn’t allot a harmony for that. What can be expected are groups beautiful women dressed to the nines in perfect hair and makeup, some with their shawls wrapped around their hips, dancing among their group of friends.

Other times, the majority of the dancers will create a circle around the newlyweds, or a couple of exceptional dancers (both boys and girls), dancing in the middle. The circle of people clap, cheer, and sway their hips along with the music as they watch the amateur dancers perform for the crowd. Sometimes they are humorous, prancing around with a crooked smile on their faces to get a laugh. Sometimes they are seductive, showing off how every inch of their bodies can flow and interpret the music booming out of the stereo system. But one thing that holds a commonality between the differences of the dancers: joy. They are unceasingly joyous.

However, not all Egyptians feel the same way about dancing as I do. There are always a few wallflowers ranging from young to old. Those from Upper Egypt—the Sa’idis—tend to be more conservative and find belly dancing to be too seductive for a proper lady to be a part of. Others who are especially religious might also find that type of dancing improper for a good Christian, just in case you tempt someone into thinking sexual thoughts about you.

In an email chain entitled, “You Know You’re Egyptian When…” also discusses these juxtaposing views of dancing. It states: “your dad thinks belly dancing’s an art form, while your grandmother thinks it’s live pornography.”

Although I have been to a ton of engagements and weddings, I can assure you that you’ll find more sexually suggestive dancing chaperoning at a high school prom or going out clubbing with your friends.



We’re no Samia Gamal or Tahia Carioca—infamous dancers in the video above from the Golden Era of belly dancing in Egypt. We do not expose our mid-drifts or wear sequence bras. We're not there to seduce or tempt. We are in normal evening gowns, ready to enjoy and celebrate the night away.