If you have ever seen Atlanta’s raqs sharqi instructor and performer Diana (Diane Adams) dance Shaabi, then you know how she can bring the house down with her hip moves and shimmies. To her credit, Diane was first introduced to Shaabi by Tarik Sultan of New York, and then brought the goodies home to share with the community. Of course, the Atlanta was honored and excited to have Tarik at Black Orchid Danse Festival 2011.
A student of famed Morocco, Tarik Sultan is a pioneer and advocate of male Oriental dance and a writer of articles addressing the male role in Middle Eastern dance history and culture. An international performer since 1985, he holds workshops and seminars worldwide and was one of the first male performers at Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival in Cairo Egypt. He frequently travels to the Middle East and North Africa to increase his skill and knowledge of folkloric dance.
Tarik’s Shaabi workshop began with a few technical issues, with Tarik himself looking a little weary. That was to be expected since most of the instructors arrived either the night before or the day of the workshop. After a hard fought battle with his computer and the sound system, he had participants gather around to give a short lecture on “What is Shaabi?” Shaabi is the urban dance style of the Egyptian people. Shaabi which is danced at clubs and parties is a funky version of the country dance “Beledi,” and the music is just as earthy but with instrumental variations and subject matter.
After a thorough lecture, it was time to dance. Tarik led participants through a simple choreography, but Shaabi is not about choreography. He says, “Shaabi is about attitude!” He instructed participants to loosen up, lower arms, release the hips for a looser shimmy and above all else have fun! Traditional Raqs Sharqi dancers are continuously being told to hold their arms properly, lift the chest and point the toes. Some of that programming is hard to break so it took a while for some participants to loosen up and really enjoy the music. It was refreshing and liberating to dance without the worry of whether or not the choreography or positioning was right. Participants were sweating and smiling all through the Shaabi workshop and the same could be said of his Saidi workshop.
Tarik himself has such and easy and relaxed disposition, plus a sweet smile that just lights up the stage. His eyes are very expressive and they twinkle with joy while instructing and while performing. His Oriental, Shaabi and Saidi numbers with accompanying zills, assaya and nargile were to die for. His drum solo was inventive and captivating and he literally shimmied until his hip scarf came undone. It was enjoyable for festival participants to see him perform the same choreography that they had learned earlier that day and it proved that Tarik is stellar at being an instructor and performer.
A pioneer of male bellydance, we hope to see more of Tarik Sultan in Atlanta to continue blazing his trail through education and knowledge of the dance.
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