Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-10
THE DANCING GIRLS OF EGYPT
ICharles O. Ielandl

The great desire of the gentlemen who come
70 Egypt Is the dancing girl. II IL were put 10
the vote. most of them would prefer her 70 the
Pyramids. IL not the Nile. Even the NOR al an 4
pioas, the Oldest and coolest, cannot forego this
DIT OF temptation; 50 they get themselves
earnestly assured by their dragomsn, or, better
still by some gentlemen of ackno WED ged high
character-h possible from Boston-that there
Is really nothing in her performance which
would call blush, etc. 1t is better still if MI.
high character gravely assures them that in
tact he found It very stupid and the Ghawszi
very ugly. All OF this Is most thankfully ac-
cepted, for. admitting il in fun the dancers are
still improper-which has a charm beyond
beauty or grace; and however good man may
pc, he Is seldom willing to admit did he not see
IL, ana knows nothing directly about it, Hard
ened worldings who frequent the regular ballet
are not 80 deeply Disguised with the GhsEien,
BOT 40 they lind her so altogether stupid So
invariably ugly,
Most of the dancing OF the Ghswazi is indif-
Ierent enough. 1t Is, however, remarkable
that what skill they do exhibit. even under these
circumstances, is seldom appreciated; for the
uuliest OF them generally affect muscular fests.
such as one never sees in the west, vet which
are not directly perceptible. They ali seem to
have the power of moving any part of the DO az
freely, Just as certain persons can move their
ears and 1t is wonderful how they will continue
to agitste every muscle in the most violent and
rapid manner for hours, Quivering from head
TO loot as i electrified, thout being in the
least fatlgued, and what Is incredible, without
perspiring.
only once saw Ghawa ii dancing which was
in the opinion of native gentlemen. and of Eu-
ropeans who had been many years in the coun-
try, and had full opportunities of Judging, Of a
really superior and artistic character. This was
Glrgeh. There were two gIrls, one quite pretty
anu young, the other less attractive, but rather
the better dancer.
These dancing girls were dressed in long
skirts, one over the other, reaching 20 the an
| kle, the upper garment being OF a whitish vel
| low or reddish color. The body and arms were
clad in very dark, tightly fitting chemise,
| with white stripes, half an inch broad about
Two inches apart, looking tiger-like, Over this
was worn very tight jacket of red satin, very
snort IN the waist, with tight short sleeves. On
their heads were curiously-shaped cans and
their HAIR hung in long braids Around the
| waist was silver girdle with high bosses and
dependent from It in loops was a very curious
ornament or chain, made OF eight ten TRAN
guar silver boxes, and many large silver beads
| profusion of gold necklaces, coins and other
ornaments hung from the neck and head. Other
GhawaZ at different towns wore dresses very
different from this. At one place their gar
ments were of black from head to foot With
SILVER stripes, while the braids Of hair were
very prettly made, terminating in many silver
balls. At Stout | saw one whose only orna-
ments were an incredible quantity of gold coins
of all Sizes
The first dancing of all Ghavazi is simply
moving about to the music and undulating the
body. Then waves of motion made to run
from head TO foot, and over these waves pass
with incredible rapidity the rioples and thrills
as you have seen a great billow In a breeze look
IKE smaller sea ribbed with a thousand wave
lets. All is done in perfect time with the mu-
sic. Then the air changes and there is a varIa-
ton in the dance. The girl stops-she becomes
lmmovable below the body and moves only the
body above, rocking and swaying, expressive of
suffering from intense passion. AT times and
in time with the music, CONFUSION thrills the
waist, arms and head, and sometimes the
muscles. She becomes quiet; but ii YOU observe
closely the movement, passion and exertiOu are
not less intense, and the breasts continue 20
move as if vitality remained in them alone; per
haps only one thrObs violently.
There IS another change, and the dancer sinks
slowly almost to her knees, as if overpOwere1
with passion, while the arms sweep in singular
ffVt
slowly in a walking dance, moving the lower
part OF her body forward more and more with a
vigorous guivering, aud once in ten seconds
starting with cOBYulsion which gradually be-
comes more frequent until she apparently
yields and expires.
The girl at GIrgeh performed very pretty
dance, which was quite poem. Placing "a
cup, symbolic Of temptation on the ground.
she danced around it in a style which was per
iectiy SPANISH, turning the body and sinking
low with great grace and exquisite art. The
cur appeared 10 exercise a terrible fascination
and she seemed afraid to drain it. The fear
perfectly acted. Five times without aid
fTOm her arms she almost lay on the ground.
with her thirsty lips just dallying with the ge.
and then rising swept in dance, and thrilled.
and shivered, and turned, and sank again. The
sixth time she had completed a circle, and, no
longer able 10 resist, she approached the cup
with thrObs ard pauses. and then without using
her hands lifted it from the ground with her
lips alone, draining it as she rose, and, the
tragedy OF temptation being over, merrly
danced about the room in quick step,
WIN her hea0 thrown back, holding the cup all
the time in her mouth.
Then the elder girl placed cup on her head,
and danced for long time great variety OF
movements without letting il fall, the same be-
ing done IN turn by the younger. | did not see,
however, as my fellow travellers did on another
occasion, dancing girls who, while dancing,
made cups run from the head down the side of
the lace, along the arms and back, as a skilled
Hercules in a circus makes cannon balls travel
around him. This is, however, rather Juggling
than dancing. Sometimes a stick is used in
these performances. Sometimes the two girls
dance duo; and l have seen this made quite
as improper, though not so sickly sentimental
as IN any opera-house in Europe, when the bal
lerina falls back into the male objects arms,
eNeing hln with a leering smile, while she lifts
one leg TO the gallery.
There are 'Awalim and 'Awalim and Cha
wazi and GhawaZi. Some are mere peasant
ard others are low caste, and dance coarsely,
with male jester taking occasional part in the
performances, as / saw at Luxor | am told
grand barems on great festival occasions. Their
style of dancing is the same that prevails. with
variations, all over the east, and the great Diff
ference between il and that of the west is simply
that the one consists simply of expressive move
ment and pantOmime OF the body, while the
other is chiefly jumping of the legs. There is
just the same difference in their dancing and
ours that there is in the music; and the oriental
is physically quite as diff cult asthe other.
When was on the Nile / gave GhawaZi the
name 'Wavers," as expressive of their move
ments. Long may they wave!