At Al Masri, we hold as much pride in our dance, Raqs Baladi, as
we do in our cuisine. Raqs Baladi (Local Dance) is a celebration
of the femininity and sensuality of woman. It is fundamentally an
improvisational dance with its own movement vocabulary, fluidly
integrated with the rhythm of the music. In Raqs Baladi, the dancer
internalizes and expresses the emotions evoked by the music. The
most revered Raqs Baladi dancers are those who can best project
their inner emotions through dance, even if their movement vocabulary
is very simple. Al Masri is the only venue in the Bay Area to see
authentic Egyptian Raqs Baladi.
HOUSE
ETIQUTTE...
A Raqs Baladi performance is an interactive experience. Feel free
to turn your chairs around and clap to the music! If the dancer
invites you onto the stage and you choose to take part, please do
so in a respectful and mature manner. Service may be limited during
the performance.
TIPPING
THE PERFORMER...
In Egypt, it is customary for the audience to tip the performer
as a sign of appreciation. For your convenience, a “Dancer’s
Gratuity” envelope will be provided for you with your bill
book. Please place your gratuity for the performer in this envelope.
A
BREIF HISTORY OF THE DANCE...
From as far back as the fourteenth century BC, Egyptian tomb paintings
depict dancers whose calisthenic positions mirror those used in
Raqs Baladi. Since then, the dance evolved alongside Arabic music,
Cairo being the cultural center due to its musical innovation. In
the 1930’s, the Egyptian film industry, one of the largest
in the world, made the dance accessible to audiences all over the
world. The mold for modern Raqs Baladi was set by the dance legends
of this time including Tahia Carioca, Samia Gamal and Naima Akef.
