Dancers
Miriam, Rainbow, and Esther
Songs
“Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds
“Tabla of Said” by Cairo Orchestra
Choreography
Joyful Dance
Videography
Candlelight Productions
Uploaded with permission.
About
This dance is done in an Egyptian folkloric style called Raqs al assaya in which women use canes to mimic the combat skills of the men. Originating from Upper Egypt, the style dates all the way back to ancient times.
Dedication
Miriam’s father had been looking forward to seeing this performance when he passed away three weeks before the show was to go on. Knowing he would not have wanted his girls to miss the show, we added his tambourine to the dance and dedicated this song to him. It is fitting that the dance was a drum solo honoring combat skills, as “Grampo” was both a veteran and a drummer.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.