Exuberance, repetition and excitement charachterise Shaabi dancing. In Raqs Sharqi terms it denotes the dancing of the rural areas of Upper Egypt and has two main forms, Fellahi (of the village) and Ghawazee (gypsy dancing.)
Ghawazee (‘Invaders of the heart’) are the female dancer entertainers who settled in the Saiid, Upper Egypt, after their banishment from Cairo in the 19th century. They integrated Saiidi music into their art, and their tradition is a relaxed, charismatic dancing full of shakes, shivers and swerves. They claim to have gypsy heritage, and despite varied fortunes throughout their history, are in demand to this day at urban and village celebrations as well as at tourist venues.
Today if you ask for Shaabi music in Egypt you will be sold pop music. To find the music of the Saiid you have to describe it as Mizmar or Rabab music.These are two of the main instruments of that area and can be seen in the picture above.
