| Good, Better, Best: A Review of Three 5-Star Dance Venues in Egypt by Cheri Berens |
COPYRIGHT 2003
People are always asking me where I go to see good dancing when I’m in Cairo. First, although I enjoy a good dancer no matter what her nationality, if
you are in Egypt, see an Egyptian dancer. This may sound like an odd statement, but you’d be surprised at how many foreigners are dancing in Cairo,
so always ask. Second, always chose a 5-star venue. Quality can drop drastically with the loss of just one star. You really do get what you pay for.
With dancing, the difference between 4-star and 5-star usually means sleaze.
Most first time tourists end up on an evening Nile cruise with a dinner show. The 5-star cruise experience is quite pleasant—dinner and entertainment
while cruising the Nile. But, if you are hoping to see good dancing, you will be disappointed. Recently I reviewed a new boat that supposedly had a
great show and dancer. The first act was a three member band with synthesizers. They played elevator music and did not stimulate any emotion. Two
tabla players were added for the dancer, which sparked a bit of excitement, but the dancer was lackluster and did not have much movement variation,
so this performance was also rather dull. The band played a medley of songs and when they included a kaleegi, the dancer did not seem to know how
to dance to it. She didn’t alter her movements at all. She only had one costume change and both costumes were bland two-piece costumes with little
personality or flare. As always, I was disappointed with the dancing on a Nile cruise dinner boat and I encourage anyone visiting Egypt that wants to
see good dancing, to venture beyond it.
A better choice would be a show at a 5-star hotel. Most are geared for tourists, so make sure to go to the late show. Recently I heard there was a new
dancer at the Semiramis Hotel, so I went to check her out. Again, the first act was a boring synthesized band with two mediocre singers. The real
show started at 1:45 a.m. when an orchestra and a talented pop singer came out. The dancer came out several songs later to one of his hot pop
songs. She wore a glamorous, sophisticated 2-piece costume and her dance was powerful. At first I thought she used too may fast movements, but I
came to appreciate her dancing style because of her skill at hitting the musical highlights. Her dance was polished and well rehearsed and she
connected well with the audience without actually getting involved with them. She did not use any western movements. Her dance was centralized in
the hips and she used a diverse group of accents and steps. She did three costume and musical changes, and although most of the music and her
dancing was modern oriental, she did a brief kaleegi as part of one dance. She also danced a nice cane dance, complete with appropriate costuming.
Although you can consider hotels a safe bet, you will have a better opportunity to see real Egyptian entertainment at a 5-star nightclub. One of my
favorite nightclubs is The Parisianna. It is owned by the famous entertainer, Lucie. The first act included a full orchestra with what I call “Ladies of the
Evening” dancers. In the three and four star nightclubs, these dancers are quite sleazy and are sometimes prostitutes, but Lucie’s “Ladies” were
tasteful and they could actually dance (very rare). They included a very entertaining kaleegi. (The “Ladies” are there to encourage the men to dance,
drink, spend money, and stay for the late show--Lucie).
The second act was one of the best nightclub singers I’ve ever heard. The audience was mostly Egyptian, but included many people from other middle
eastern countries. The singer went around and found out the different nationalities of the audience members and then sang popular songs from each
country. This really got the audience going and prepped to have a great time with Lucie, who came out at 3:00 a.m.
Lucie includes singing and joking between dance performances and totally involves herself with her audience, but never in a sleazy way. Every time I’
ve been to her nightclub there is always at least one famous entertainer in the audience. She always invites the person up to sing, play an instrument,
or dance. One time it was Hossam Ramzy who got up and played an incredible drum solo.
This particular night Lucie opened her act wearing a costume that looked like it came out of the old “I Dream of Jeannie” sitcom series. Although her
opening number was slightly westernized, both in costuming and movements, by daybreak, her performances proved to be totally Egyptian. She did
three costume changes that included a classic one-piece and a beledi dress. She danced saiidi and beledi and climaxed the show by adding a
performance by an upper Egyptian man playing a regional drum. He then danced a saiidi stick dance with Lucie. The audience was extremely moved
and emotions were high. Lucie’s dancing may not always be the best compared to some of the hot, new dancers, but as far as the 5-star venue goes,
Lucie’s nightclub is totally professional and one of the best.
you are in Egypt, see an Egyptian dancer. This may sound like an odd statement, but you’d be surprised at how many foreigners are dancing in Cairo,
so always ask. Second, always chose a 5-star venue. Quality can drop drastically with the loss of just one star. You really do get what you pay for.
With dancing, the difference between 4-star and 5-star usually means sleaze.
Most first time tourists end up on an evening Nile cruise with a dinner show. The 5-star cruise experience is quite pleasant—dinner and entertainment
while cruising the Nile. But, if you are hoping to see good dancing, you will be disappointed. Recently I reviewed a new boat that supposedly had a
great show and dancer. The first act was a three member band with synthesizers. They played elevator music and did not stimulate any emotion. Two
tabla players were added for the dancer, which sparked a bit of excitement, but the dancer was lackluster and did not have much movement variation,
so this performance was also rather dull. The band played a medley of songs and when they included a kaleegi, the dancer did not seem to know how
to dance to it. She didn’t alter her movements at all. She only had one costume change and both costumes were bland two-piece costumes with little
personality or flare. As always, I was disappointed with the dancing on a Nile cruise dinner boat and I encourage anyone visiting Egypt that wants to
see good dancing, to venture beyond it.
A better choice would be a show at a 5-star hotel. Most are geared for tourists, so make sure to go to the late show. Recently I heard there was a new
dancer at the Semiramis Hotel, so I went to check her out. Again, the first act was a boring synthesized band with two mediocre singers. The real
show started at 1:45 a.m. when an orchestra and a talented pop singer came out. The dancer came out several songs later to one of his hot pop
songs. She wore a glamorous, sophisticated 2-piece costume and her dance was powerful. At first I thought she used too may fast movements, but I
came to appreciate her dancing style because of her skill at hitting the musical highlights. Her dance was polished and well rehearsed and she
connected well with the audience without actually getting involved with them. She did not use any western movements. Her dance was centralized in
the hips and she used a diverse group of accents and steps. She did three costume and musical changes, and although most of the music and her
dancing was modern oriental, she did a brief kaleegi as part of one dance. She also danced a nice cane dance, complete with appropriate costuming.
Although you can consider hotels a safe bet, you will have a better opportunity to see real Egyptian entertainment at a 5-star nightclub. One of my
favorite nightclubs is The Parisianna. It is owned by the famous entertainer, Lucie. The first act included a full orchestra with what I call “Ladies of the
Evening” dancers. In the three and four star nightclubs, these dancers are quite sleazy and are sometimes prostitutes, but Lucie’s “Ladies” were
tasteful and they could actually dance (very rare). They included a very entertaining kaleegi. (The “Ladies” are there to encourage the men to dance,
drink, spend money, and stay for the late show--Lucie).
The second act was one of the best nightclub singers I’ve ever heard. The audience was mostly Egyptian, but included many people from other middle
eastern countries. The singer went around and found out the different nationalities of the audience members and then sang popular songs from each
country. This really got the audience going and prepped to have a great time with Lucie, who came out at 3:00 a.m.
Lucie includes singing and joking between dance performances and totally involves herself with her audience, but never in a sleazy way. Every time I’
ve been to her nightclub there is always at least one famous entertainer in the audience. She always invites the person up to sing, play an instrument,
or dance. One time it was Hossam Ramzy who got up and played an incredible drum solo.
This particular night Lucie opened her act wearing a costume that looked like it came out of the old “I Dream of Jeannie” sitcom series. Although her
opening number was slightly westernized, both in costuming and movements, by daybreak, her performances proved to be totally Egyptian. She did
three costume changes that included a classic one-piece and a beledi dress. She danced saiidi and beledi and climaxed the show by adding a
performance by an upper Egyptian man playing a regional drum. He then danced a saiidi stick dance with Lucie. The audience was extremely moved
and emotions were high. Lucie’s dancing may not always be the best compared to some of the hot, new dancers, but as far as the 5-star venue goes,
Lucie’s nightclub is totally professional and one of the best.
