Egypt and Beyond * Installment 4, Part 1
The Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival
The Opening Gala Show
Photos: Since there were no photos allowed at the festival, this will be the one section with very few to share. We were told cameras would be confiscated, so we did not take ours and therefore did not even get pictures outside. Had we stayed at the festival, we could have quickly ran our cameras back to the room after outside photos. Bummer (hence once again, the reason to stay at the festival hotel).
Zaina in front of the Entrance to the Hall of Waiting
Taken on another day of the festival
Note: No head covering :) (What a Rebel)
Ahlan Wa Sahlan Gala
Opening Show
The festival and its star packed shows are as chaotic as
they are exhilarating and intensely inspiring.
Looking out of the Restaurant Windows at Mena House
Onto the Pyramids
Arriving at the Mena House and seeing entertainers already
performing outside, film crews walking around, and dancers arriving from all
over the world went beyond exciting.
The Ghawazii dancers were on the stairway leading into the event,
engaging us in dance as we went in.
The air was charged, my head was spinning, and I was uncomfortably
dressed in what felt like a gunny sack, head to toe. As I looked around there were women in every form of finery,
dressed in beautiful gowns, beaded dresses, simple summer dresses, clothed in
what you would see at most any dance event. So why was I in a gunny sack with my head and hair
covered? My spirits
plummeted. If you know me, you
know that I take pride in how I dress.
Style and fashion have always been important to me but I realized
conservative was the word here and if everyone should be covered, then I am
down with that. BUT, when we were
the only group in the entire event covered in this way (except for Muslim
women) well, my ire was up. Even
more so when dancers who know me kept asking why I was covered “like
that”. But, into the event we
went, covered or no.
We were actually within the first few dozen people in the
front of the long hallway entering into the ballroom – envision 20 feet wide by
200 feet long, PACKED with wall to wall people. In a matter of about ten minutes we couldn’t go forward,
couldn’t go backward – sardines have more room. My head kept going to how dangerous this was and all the
“what ifs”. But we stood our
ground even as people pushed their way to the front of the line through and
even under us to get in early. At
one point an entire film crew came pushing their way through this mass of
people stepping on toes, pushing and shoving people. If they were filming wasn’t there another way in for
them? I have heard about the chaos
from other dancers who have attended the festival in previous years. A shame this can’t be handled
differently – just a frustrating start to the evening that actually had a few
from our group headed back outside to wait it out. If you are claustrophobic, that is what you will want to do
“wait”.
So, once in the room for the show, our table held by our tour
organizer, I thought, aaaah, finally we can relax. I proceeded to take off my head scarves as we chatted with
other dancers around the room.
(Yeah, admittedly I am probably going to hold a grudge on this head covering issue for a long time). Leila Haddad as always stands out in a crowd and was such an added treat
for Obei and I as she giggled her way to our table to talk and chatter about
this wonderful experience. And it
was about this time that I saw “her” - - a woman I had the wonderful
opportunity of taking a workshop from “a few years ago” in California and who
has since become one of the most incredible costumers in our business. She was
one of the people who had a great influence on my own dance persona. She was a breath of fresh air for me
for the first time I saw her dance, a true inspiration. So seeing her again was such delight. I
am speaking of course of Amira el Kattan. There she was, gliding across the room in that wonderful way
she has. I continued to be
completely star struck and in awe as one incredible dancer after another made
their way into and around the room.
There is no way that your heart can stay on its normal rhythm when in
the company of these true masters of dance.
Our excitement continued to build as the lights went down
and the show began. Said el Artiste was first up. My Gosh, to hear that many percussion instruments on a stage
– filling the room with that heart thundering sound - - actually brings tears
to the eyes. As he began the
second number of his performance I was struck with a sense of panic; “hmmmm,
did I lock that sliding glass door to our hotel room”? I leaned over, asked Obei and I am not
sure whose face showed more fear, hers or mine at the thought we had left
everything –totally exposed (stage setting again). And all I could think to do was jump up and run to the front
desk to call our hotel.
Okay – so reminder:
We were not in Kansas anymore Toto. Making a simple call was not so simple for more reasons than
just the language barrier (although most do speak English). I had to back track down two long
hallways, around a long corner, up a set of stairs then another long hallway,
and then down a set of stairs and around another corner to the front desk. I was trying desperately not to rapid
fire my dilemma at the poor front desk staff, and after I blurted out my
problem “I LEFT MY ROOM AT THE OTHER HOTEL UNLOCKED”, I could tell they didn’t
quite see the issue by the looks they gave me (crazy woman). So, it seemed they had no phone at the
desk that I could use and I would have to go to the hotel operator. Down two more halls, up a set of stairs
and another long hall. I blasted
through the door, panic had built as I ran, to find two darling men sitting
behind desks, well, doing what operators do “talking on the phone”.
I am still unsure why I was so frantic; was it the fact that
everything we owned was strewn across the beds - phones, cameras, jewelry,
etc.? Or was I just exhausted from
the day and frustrated from standing in the pushing and shoving match from
earlier or the run through the hotel, upstairs, downstairs, and around
corners. No matter, the look on my
face must have spoken volumes because even though both gentlemen were talking,
they both quickly finished their conversations to ask me how they could help. After telling them of my dilemma (our
totally exposed room to the outside, blah blah blah), they dialed our hotel,
explained to the front desk and then put me on the phone. So, remember when I told you that
please and thank you, being gracious and respectful rather than demanding and
impudent is so important no matter where you go? Keep that in mind as I continue.
View From that Sliding Glass Door
Zaina had left Unlocked
The Le Meridien front desk staff called Abdulla on his cell,
explained the issue that Zaina and Oberon’s room (yes, first name basis) had been
left unlocked. Security went to
the inside door, Abdulla went to the outside door, and these two men charged
into our PANTY STREWN room at the same time. Yup, remember, I had left my panties on the chair to dry IN
FRONT OF THE SLIDING GLASS DOOR, that “I” had left unlocked. Through chuckles, I was told the room
and its contents were now securely locked and to please enjoy the rest of my
evening.
My walk back to the ballroom and the waiting show was not
quite as brisk as it was getting to the phone and I couldn’t look at anyone for
fear they would see how very embarrassed I was at the thought our darling
Abdulla charged into the room to “save us” only to run straight into the chair
of panties - - yeah.
Back to the Show:
I did manage to make it back to the ball room in time to see
Dina, Rhanda Kamal and Saraiya’s performances.
I had waited so long to see Dina up close and in person and my total
devotion must have shown in my eyes as I watched through tears. She is amazing on stage - - her
absolute joy in offering not just a dance performance, but herself as well
shines like a beacon. She has a
powerful presence, and as hard a concept as it might be to grasp she is at the
same time a delicate creature, her expressive face a pure joy to watch as she
conveys her feelings along with the music. Rhanda who is as well a delight to watch, seemed to be
emulating some of Dina’s movement, which I have to admit was disappointing to
me. She is an amazing dancer in
her own right and I had hoped to see more of her own persona. Saroya, with her Brazilian influence
completely surprised me/us when after her third song she walked over, picked up
a drum and proceeded to play like any of the best drummers I have heard. SHE WAS AMAZING, my adoration of her is
now complete. Each of these
performers offered at least three costume changes throughout their individual
sets which comprised of at least 5 songs each. It was a bit long as there were even more dancers that
night, but I stilled loved and cherish every minute.
When the evening came to an end, I was sad to walk away from
the festivities, but at the same time very excited that we would be back at the
Mena House (see separate piece on the Mena House) the very next day for classes
and of course more SHOPPING.
Abdullah - Our Savior
Back at the room that evening:
When we returned to the hotel and got to our room, Abdulla
was waiting, seemingly guarding the room which did make me chuckle a bit while
at the same time embarrassed me knowing what he faced as he walked into our
room earlier. We did not hesitate
one second in tipping him rather significantly for assuring Zaina did not have
to run back to the hotel from several blocks away and keeping us “safe”. He was such a special and unanticipated
prize, a true gentleman.
Next
Installment 4, Part 2
The Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival,
Shopping and the Festival Workshops
