Five Videos Of Egyptian Saidi Stick Dances (Raks Assaya & Tahtib) , Part II

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on stick (cane) dances from Upper Egypt (Saidi dances). Part II showcases five videos of Saidi stick dances. Information about Saidi dancing is included in some of the summaries for these featured videos.

More information about these dances are found in Part I of this video. Part I also includes three videos of Saidi dances.

Click http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/04/egyptian-saidi-stick-dances-raks-assaya.html for Part I of this series.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT ADDING COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG
With considerable regret, I have disabled the comment feature on this blog (and on my other blogs except for https://pancocojams.blogspot.com, because of the large number of spam comments that I received on those blogs.

Comments for those blogs can be sent to my email address azizip17 dot com at yahoo dot com for possible inclusion in a specific post on those blogs.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: EGYPTIAN SAIDI STICK DANCE FROM LUXOR BY OSMAN BALATTA



Tarik Sultan, Uploaded on Jul 19, 2007

This is Osman Balatta, a long time friend and merchant in Luxor Egypt demonstarting for us the traditional dance style of Upper Egypt.
-snip-
Here's a transcript of the publisher’s introductory text that is found in the video:
"Osman is not a professional dancer, He is a merchant and has several stores in Sharm El Shiekh and in Luxor. However, for the sake of our group, He agreed to demonstrate the dance style that is typically done in the area, usually at weddings and other social gatherings.

Here he demonstrated the upper Egyptian stick dance Raks Al Assaya, often confused with Takhtiyb, which is a stick fight.

The music starts out in the Jihanni rhythm and the steps are an imitation of the dancing horses. The sticks called Assa or Assaya frames the body and imitates the moves of Takhtiyb.

Osman also demonstrates the sense of humour that is part of the character of Egyptian dance."

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Example #2: Egyptian Stick Dance تحطيب taḥṭīb or Raqs al assaya



EgyptPropertyForSalem, Uploaded on Dec 19, 2011

Tahtib (Arabic: تحطيب taḥṭīb) is the Modern Egyptian term for a traditional form of Egyptian folk dance involving a wooden stick, also known as "stick dance" or "cane dance". It is sometimes also described as a "stick-dancing game", or as a highly ritualized mock fight accompanied by music. Also known as Raqs al assaya

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Example #3:Saidi Fellaheen, Egyptian Folkoric, Water Jug and Stick Dance



NormaDancer2, Uploaded on Nov 16, 2009

A classic folkloric dance from Upper Egypt. As the women go to the NIle to collect water they encounter a group of men who also need water. But one of the women, catches the eyes of the men.

Music of Metkal Kenawi. Main dancer: Hala Safy

Sorry for the teeny clip of Souheir Zaki in the beginning. Couldn't cut it out without losing the beginning.

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Example #4: troup reda ..saidi فرقة رضا.. العصاية



orbot55, Uploaded on Aug 11, 2009
troup reda ..saidi فرقة رضا.. العصاية
-snip-
Several commenters wrote that Saidi dances can be performed with or without a stick.

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Example #5: Ashira dancing a Saidi with double cane - Ashira Belly Dance



CelesteAlarcon, Uploaded on Mar 1, 2011

Ashira dancing a saidi with double cane at the Hannan's Belly Dance Studio Student Show - June 2009

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to all those featured in these videos. My thanks also to the producers of these videos & their publishers on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting zumalayah.

Zumalayah showcases videos of dances & singing games done in circles or in lines, and other movement performance arts from African American culture, from African cultures, and from other cultures of the African Diaspora.

Visitor comments are welcome.