Nisaa is pleased to offer the following class series 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!
January 2025 Online Class Series!
Registration and Payment Information
PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW

Fee:

$75 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 links to this e-mail address!

Important Information:

  • Register at least 24 hours prior to the start of the class series.
  • Check your e-mail!  Nisaa will e-mail you the Zoom meeting link for each class meeting within 24 hours of the start of the class.  If you have not received an e-mail at least two hours prior to the start of the class, please contact Nisaa immediately to request the Zoom meeting link.  Please do not wait till the last minute!
  • A recording of each class meeting will be available for viewing for 14 days after that class.  All purchasers will be notified by email as soon as recordings are available.
Dancers of the Nile:
The Ghawazi of Upper and Lower Egypt
The ghawazi are a class of female entertainers from Egypt’s rural towns and villages. Historically, they have provided singing and dancing at important social occasions such as weddings and festivals. In present-day Upper Egypt, the ghawazi remain a vital part of traditional celebrations.

The dancing of the ghawazi is dominated by torso-based movements such as hip shimmies, and the ghawazi frequently accompany their dancing with finger cymbals. The ghawazi of Lower Egypt, like their urban counterparts, the awalim of Cairo and Alexandria, also incorporated gymnastic feats and spectacular balancing acts into their dancing.

In this class series, join Nisaa for an in-depth exploration of Egypt's ghawazi: their history and present situation, the defining features of their dancing, regional distinctions in style, and more! Nisaa's goal with this class series is to dispel misconceptions about the ghawazi that continue to circulate, particularly on the international workshop and festival circuit. Nisaa will be sharing new information collected during her recent research trip to Egypt.

Target Audience: Middle Eastern Dance Students (Intermediate to Advanced/Professional)

Week One – Documenting the Ghawazi
​Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 2-4 PM US Central Time

What do we really know about Egypt's ghawazi? A lot! And the facts are more compelling than the fantasies. Nisaa brings together a range of evidence - primary source texts, photos, videos, interviews, and more - to provide a detailed and factual overview of the history and current situation of the ghawazi. This week's lecture provides the necessary cultural and historical foundation for the remainder of the series.

Week Two – The Ghawazi of Upper Egypt
​Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 2-4 PM US Central Time

Thanks to the accessibility of the Banat Mazin ghawazi of Luxor, the dance style of Upper Egypt's ghawazi is much better known than that of their counterparts in Lower Egypt. On the other hand, the visibility of the Banat Mazin to international practitioners of Egyptian dance has led to the misconception that the Banat Mazin are "the last ghawazi of Egypt." In reality, the ghawazi tradition continues to thrive in Upper Egypt, and the Banat Mazin are far from the only ghawazi in the region, let alone the last. Nisaa looks more broadly than the Banat Mazin, drawing upon the existing documentation of other ghawazi in the region, to define the technique, aesthetic, musical accompaniment, and costuming that comprise the Upper Egyptian ghawazi dance style. This week's session is a deep dive into the style, with both lecture and movement practice.
Week Three – The Ghawazi of Lower Egypt
​Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 2-4 PM US Central Time

Compared to their sisters in Upper Egypt, the ghawazi of Egypt's Nile Delta are poorly understood. A lack of comprehensive and accessible documentation of their dance style has enabled practitioners both inside and outside Egypt to take many liberties in recreating their dancing. However, as more information comes to light, it contradicts some of the common portrayals of these ghawazi, and enables a more realistic depiction. Nisaa draws upon available documentation of the ghawazi of Lower Egypt, as well as her own firsthand encounters with retired Delta ghawazi, to define the technique, aesthetic, musical accompaniment, and costuming that comprise their signature style. This week's session is a deep dive into the style, with both lecture and movement practice.