The first of these mini dance reforms occurred in the early sixties with politicians trying to stamp out 'unsavoury dance practice' in a society demanding a return to conservative Islamic social values. The ban on foreign dancers is not just a political issue - it is a decision that has been made, the government says, "to conserve cultural artistic standards and return jobs to local entertainers". However, the main aim which remains unspoken, veiled by the former reasonings, is to remove foreign prostitution, which began with the influx of foreign dance troupes performing at nightclubs. I am in basically in favour of the Egyptian government's decision to ban foreign dancers for the most part; it certainly makes sense, but would there be exceptions for the serious foreign entertainers who contribute, with their live's work, to the overall artistic standard of Oriental dance in the country? I personally have no desire to dance in Egypt, but know several dancers who are in the predicament where they must now either fight this decision, or leave the country. I also know Egyptian dancers and choreographers who support this ban, believing it will give Egyptian dancers a chance to reform the art.

What the Egyptian artists think

Mohumed Ali St is known as 'street of the artists', where dancers and musicians gather to source tuition, form entertainment groups and find work. However, things have slowed down in the former entertainer's hub, not just because there was a severe decrease in tourism last year, but because many dance jobs have been taken by foreigners. Many local Egyptian entertainers have dedicated their lives to dancing. For some dancing is the only career they know; few were encouraged by family because they showed exceptional natural talent, for most it was a family legacy - perhaps their parents were entertainers and they were expected to follow suit.

Whatever their reason for becoming artists, one thing is for sure - its a difficult career choice in the Islamic world, and for the local dancers in Egypt, perhaps more difficult now than ever before. The artist, especially the Oriental dancer, more so than the folkloric dancer, has a hard time earning respect within the Egyptian social system. People enjoy her artistry and will even promote their favourite dancer - or rather her entertainment value - but plainly speaking, it's not a desirable profession. Its tough - there are nearly always more men than women in the audience and to bare so much flesh and dance sensuously, even flirtatiously in public is contrarily viewed. The dance performer is enjoyed yet not integrated, invited yet not accepted. You can imagine how many local Egyptian dancers were ousted from Nile ferries, clubs and hotels in favour of foreign dancers. With oriental dance becoming popular worldwide, many girls headed overseas for Cairo - the centre of oriental dance, where jobs were plentiful. Some were talented, others were novelties in the Arabic entertainment market, but the vast majority, as the Egyptian artists believe, couldn't dance nearly as well and were also undercutting payment. In Mohumed Ali St, where dancers and musicians gather, the consensus is that banning foreign dancers is a good thing.

Would the banning foreign dancers meet its objectives?

Would banning foreign dancers pave the way for a new revolution in Egyptian dance - a new 'golden age' where authentic Egyptian 'baladi' and classical oriental dance arts are revived and folkloric traditions strengthened? Would the Egyptian people begin to appreciate their own local talent more? If the ban was successful, there would be well over a thousand new jobs for Egyptian dancers. But would this political move fulfill its real objective - remove foreign prostitution in the guise of dance? It would be certainly morally correct action to stamp out the exploitation of under-aged and or underpaid foreign dancers, who are being taken advantage of by both commercial Egyptian hotel owners as well as unscrupulous local and foreign agents. The dancers are young, naive and the money they make, no matter how low, is usually better than what they would make back in their own countries. The girls are usually from the Eastern block countries, attractive young dancers brought into Egypt by foreign agents, which are often recruiting for prostitution rackets. India, for example has totally banned dancers from Eastern Europe because the same happened there - and in many ways there are cultural parallels with Egyptian social values.

In the entertainment capital of Cairo, foreign dancers recruited to perform in 'ballet' troupes, dressed in skimpy oriental costumes or topless in men only nightclubs represents just the tip of the iceberg - the mobs responsible for bringing them into the country control large scale prostitution rackets. Last year, thirty eight under-aged foreign prostitutes between the ages of 16 and 18 were 'arrested' within a two week crackdown. Does the government believe it will 'clean up' this problem by removing the dancers who are the vehicle for the more illegal operations? The government is neglecting to face the real issue, which is the supply and demand equation. The Saudi, Kuwaiti and Gulf visitors are renowned for treating Cairo like a 'gentlemen's playground'. And its obvious that Egyptian men, too are controlling this industry. When the foreign prostitutes are removed, will they merely be replaced by local ones?


Foreign artists in Egypt this century

In Cairo right now, there are several highly talented dancers performing in up market venues - British artist Liza Laziza (of Iranian descent), Argentinian Asmahan and French dancer Ketty Star. They are dedicated and popular artists, in demand for weddings and parties. The law states that all these foreign dancers must stop performing because they are not Egyptian. Even dancers from other Middle Eastern countries must go if they are not Egyptian - and that includes Liza and up and coming Sheraton star Soraya from Syria. However, Egypt's entertainment industry has seen many foreign dance and music stars. Nagua Fouad was a Palestinian dancer who reached iconic status in Egypt, as did Lebanese Naima Akef before her, earlier in the century. In fact Naima's uncle, Ibrahim Akef trained Egypt's celebrity dance star Dina in her trademark oriental dance style. In neigbouring Lebanon, Greek-Italian Nadia Gamal was celebrated as a the pioneer in Lebanese Oriental dance, and her legacy still continues with her former students treaching her style. Tunisian born singer Warda is renowned as one of Egypt's top singing artists, as was cinema's famous actor/musician Farid El Attrache - a Druze prince - accepted at a time when the Druze religion (a seperate sect of Islam from Lebanon, Palestine and Israel) was rejected by the majority of Muslims in Egypt.

The decision of the Egyptian government to ban foreign dancers has its positive points and negative concerns. Surely it will affect the state of the dance, which has suffered some decline recently. I'd like to see the Egyptians devoted to their primary concerns - eliminating foreign prostitution and giving the arts back to Egyptians - but be flexible enough to be able to 'change their own rules' - as they are able to do in many situations. Let them look back into history and see how foreign talents became exponents and pioneers of their own Egyptian arts. And let them understand that art is constantly changing - even since the forties when Tahiya Karioka was inspired by flamenco and Samia Gamal by European ballet. Mahmoud Reda told me once he was "inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers" and their vibrant, connected dance style - it was this foreign inspiration shaped the Egyptian choreographies created for television and stage by the national Reda Troupe.

My own experience concerning dance and politics

The following anecdote is an experience I had in Cairo a few years back that still makes me laugh, and in a way reflects the Egyptian attitude towards dance. One hot Cairo afternoon a friend took me to a private political museum, knowing I had studied history and was interested in Egypt's cultural and political history. We were looking at the faded old newspaper clippings in frames - many were news articles about his late father, a chief government lawyer. His father was popular in the public eye, known for expressing the people's social concerns in the media. His most famous case helped free Palestinian prisoners from Jordan in the seventies, and he was involved in many military cases. But one old front page news article caught my eye - a photo of him in court waving his arms about and shouting - looking quite irritated about something. Behind him, a poster of a bellydancer in a two piece costume. I asked "what was that about?" and received an almost apologetic reply. "I'm sorry Keti, my father took many things to court, and one of the things he was fighting for was banning dancers from performing on Egyptian television". As we walked downtown, I wondered what his father would say if ever met me, a dancer. But then again, I remember my friend proudly telling me how his father often had the famous Akef family of entertainers at his home for dinner.


Note: Ban against foreign dancers in place 2004 - from Jan 2005 the ban has been again temporarily lifted by the government.
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