The al-Tannoura Egyptian Dance Troupe

In the early evening we regroup and head off for a free show provided by the al-Tannoura Egyptian Heritage Dance Troupe. The dancers will entertain us for 90 minutes with traditional Sufi dancing and music, and incredible displays of dervish dancing that will leave your head spinning for hours afterwards.

Al-Tannoura Troupe is one of the Egyptian folk troupes, established by the General Organisation for Cultural Palaces at Egypt's Ministry of Culture. The group is based in the capital at the old Fatmis Cairo, mainly at Wekalet Alghour. The Troupe was formed in 1988 at the Ghury Palace, which specialises in reviving and renovating the inherited artistic and cultural themes that have been endangered or are about to diminish. The al-Tannoura Troupe, which performs two times a week (on Sat & Wed) all year - round in Cairo, has also been taking part in various national festivals.

Popular and folk musical instruments usually accompany the troupe's performance like Rababa, Salamia, flute, drums, tambourines and sanjes. These instruments accelerate the dancers' warm up and enlighten the colourful atmosphere of the stage performance. A folk singer recites religious verses (Inshad Deni) and songs in praise of the Prophet (PBUH) Mohammed. The senior dancer, known as the 'Lafife' or the one going in infinite circles, and the junior dancers, the 'Hanatia', all dance to the rhythmic intonation of the Tambourines. They are not professionally trained but rather inherited this art spontaneously from their forefathers.

The Program 1. Musical interlude (Tahmeila): This is a folk musical interlude that magnificently displays the skills of the musicians and the capabilities of the instrumental self. 2. The Sufi Tannoura Dance (Al Darawish): This Sufi - type of the Tannoura dance has a very special characteristic as it relies heavily on the dancer's unlimited moves in circles. This rounded move is a reflection of a special philosophical concept in the Islam Sufi rituals known as the Mulawia sect. The dance is full of philosophical concepts reflecting the man's spiritual dilemma in understanding the universe from Sufis' point of view. However, this dance, which involves the many religious perspectives of life that could be found at many Muslim states, has been enriched by the colourful variations of the folk Egyptian life style. The well - known Egyptian musical rhythms that flutter from slow, moderate to accelerated tone add to the action and the spiritual impact of the dance. The very rich and colourful costumes which are authentic reflections of the local environment in Egypt, have been an added value to this dance. Moreover, the verses accompanying Tannoura echoes the Tannoura dance. It is very much a popular folk Egyptian dance rather than a religious one concerned with the direct religious ritual.

3. The show of Tannoura dance: This dance depends mainly on the dancer's showing off his skills in using the many unfolded costumes of the Tannoura and his physique while corresponding to the musical sentences and the breath-taking variable rhythm.

Click on the images above for short mgp files of the dancers