JANE WASS - My dance, your dance
I was working at Granada TV when a documentary on the traditional dance of Egypt lit my imagination and somebody told me about a Raqs Sharqi workshop coming up. I went, and my path was set.
After many years of study and travel to pursue my growing passion, I gave up my career in the media in 2002 to establish Mazazik (a term used to describe folkloric Egyptian music) and completed a teacher training course with the Raqs Sharqi Society in London.
After many years of study and travel to pursue my growing passion, I gave up my career in the media in 2002 to establish Mazazik (a term used to describe folkloric Egyptian music) and completed a teacher training course with the Raqs Sharqi Society in London.
cMy aim in teaching and presenting dance is not to reproduce ethnographically, or to mimic, but to try to find the essence of the dance and express what it means to me personally.
I love to travel. Dance is not only a personal journey, but also one of the ways I explore the world around me.
Here are some of my dances and places.
I love to travel. Dance is not only a personal journey, but also one of the ways I explore the world around me.
Here are some of my dances and places.
EGYPTIAN SAIDI (FOLKLORIC) & BALADI
Learning from the source.
The dance of the people of Egypt - the folk dance of Upper Egypt and the Baladi (translated from Arabic meaning of my country) style is what you'll see at social gatherings and weddings. It is naturally fluid, grounded and beautiful movement, different from much of the over-sexualised bellydance you see in the cabarets and clubs. It is probably one of the easiest and safest forms of dance that exists.
I also explore some of the special dances of the Upper Egyptian region, such as the Saidi stick dance (developing our focus of energy in our bodies), and the ghawazee (gypsy) dance with its powerful hips movements.
The dance of the people of Egypt - the folk dance of Upper Egypt and the Baladi (translated from Arabic meaning of my country) style is what you'll see at social gatherings and weddings. It is naturally fluid, grounded and beautiful movement, different from much of the over-sexualised bellydance you see in the cabarets and clubs. It is probably one of the easiest and safest forms of dance that exists.
I also explore some of the special dances of the Upper Egyptian region, such as the Saidi stick dance (developing our focus of energy in our bodies), and the ghawazee (gypsy) dance with its powerful hips movements.
RAQS SHARQI / ORIENTAL DANCE
Raqs Sharqi means dances of the east and originated in the coffee houses and nightclubs of Cairo in the early 20th century, without doubt primarily as entertainment for men. Undeniably sensual, what used to be (and in many cases still is) a dance used provocatively, has also now been discovered by many, many people around the world as a means of powerful self-expression.
The technique is unmistakeably Egyptian but with more complexity, skill and musicality.
The technique is unmistakeably Egyptian but with more complexity, skill and musicality.
CLASSICAL ARABIC DANCE
A dance made for performance, sometimes with a touch of other cultures, Persian maybe or Spanish, if we are working with the old styles of dance and music from the Golden Age of Islam onwards.
And in the 20th century influences we find opera, latin dances and modern western dance. Combining the elegance and sophistication of ballet but still with the grounded nature and fundamental movement principles of all Eastern dance, this is the most technically demanding dance you may try with me.
And in the 20th century influences we find opera, latin dances and modern western dance. Combining the elegance and sophistication of ballet but still with the grounded nature and fundamental movement principles of all Eastern dance, this is the most technically demanding dance you may try with me.
GUEST PROJECTS INCLUDE
Guy Schalom's Baladi Blues CD launch (Tribute to the Masters) performance with the band at St Ethelberga's, London (2011)
Dancing from the Heart Residential. Ridley Hall (2009/2010/2011)
Middle Eastern Music and Damp Camp, nr Bath {2010/2011)
Tanssiva Aurinko, Finland - baladi with live music {2007 2008)
PAST APPEARANCES include:
An Sanctoir, West Cork, Ireland
Waterside Arts Centre, Manchester
Tribe of Doris Festival, Somerset
Bellydance Superstars Raqs Britannia, Blackpool Winter Gardens
Steiner Theatre, London
Karakalio Theatre, Finland
Teaterrivantaa, Finland
Manchester Mardi Gras
Z-Arts, Manchester
Amnesty International AGM
Planet Egypt, London
Unity Theatre, Liverpool
Guy Schalom's Baladi Blues CD launch (Tribute to the Masters) performance with the band at St Ethelberga's, London (2011)
Dancing from the Heart Residential. Ridley Hall (2009/2010/2011)
Middle Eastern Music and Damp Camp, nr Bath {2010/2011)
Tanssiva Aurinko, Finland - baladi with live music {2007 2008)
PAST APPEARANCES include:
An Sanctoir, West Cork, Ireland
Waterside Arts Centre, Manchester
Tribe of Doris Festival, Somerset
Bellydance Superstars Raqs Britannia, Blackpool Winter Gardens
Steiner Theatre, London
Karakalio Theatre, Finland
Teaterrivantaa, Finland
Manchester Mardi Gras
Z-Arts, Manchester
Amnesty International AGM
Planet Egypt, London
Unity Theatre, Liverpool