Nisaa is pleased to offer the following lecture online via Zoom.  Before registering, please read ALL the information below, and if you have questions, e-mail or call 314.599.0506 for more information.  Stay up-to-date regarding upcoming class sessions by subscribing to Nisaa's monthly newsletter!
October 2024 Online Lecture!
Registration and Payment Information
PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW

Fees:

$50 USD

Please note that class fees are non-refundable after the start of the session.  Classes missed in the current session may not be used as credit for classes in future sessions.  Registrations are non-transferable.

Registration:

Register here with PayPal.  Click on the link to the right.  You don't have to have a PayPal account to use this method of payment.  Please be sure to register with a current e-mail address - Nisaa will e-mail the Zoom meeting link to this e-mail address!

Important Information:

  • Register at least 24 hours prior to the start of the lecture.
  • Check your e-mail!  Nisaa will e-mail you the Zoom meeting link within 24 hours of the start of the lecture.  If you have not received an e-mail at least two hours prior to the start of the lecture, please contact Nisaa immediately to request the Zoom meeting link.  Please do not wait till the last minute!
  • A recording will be available for viewing for 14 days after the lecture.  All purchasers will be notified by email as soon as the recording is available.
Searching for the Sa’id: Disentangling Upper Egyptian Folk and Traditional Dances from the Theatrical Folkloric Dance Juggernaut
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 2-5 PM US Central Time

The theatrical folkloric dance troupes that emerged in Egypt in the mid-to-late 20th century have had a profound impact on how both Egyptians and non-Egyptians view Egyptian folk and traditional dances.  The theatrical folkloric interpretations differ from the source dances in profound ways, yet the former have come to overshadow the latter, in large measure due to the Egyptian government’s support for theatrical folkloric dance at the expense of folk and traditional styles.  One of the most graphic illustrations of the impact of theatrical folkloric interpretations lies in the massive disconnect between sa’idi dance as represented on the theatrical stage versus the diverse and complex folk and traditional dance styles of Upper Egypt.  In this lecture, Nisaa explores this disconnect, presenting detailed documentation of actual Upper Egyptian folk and traditional dances and illustrating the elements that have been altered, edited, or outright omitted from theatrical folkloric interpretations.  Focus will be on folk dances of the sa’idi population, such as raqsat al-assaya, as well as the traditional dances of the Upper Egyptian ghawazi, though the lecture will touch on the folk dances of other populations in the area, such as the Nubians and the Beja (these other populations really require their own lectures).  Nisaa’s goal with this lecture is to raise awareness of actual Upper Egyptian folk and traditional dances and to encourage dancers to seek out the perspectives of local practitioners of these styles.