Randa arrives to class today refreshed and looking like it’s the first class of the week. She’s excited to teach us a new choreography she’s been working on.
For some reason, energy in the class is really low. Many of the dancers went to the disco last night, so that might account for it, but I have no excuse. I didn’t leave my room, but I didn‘t get to bed before 2:00 a.m. either.. It’s a wonderful choreography but mind numbingly filled with turns and counter-turns and is very, very fast. I’m lost. Immediately. Sadly for Randa but happily for me, many of my fellow dancers are too, even though she patiently repeats the combinations. I finally throw the towel in and watch while taking notes. I’m really tired at the end of the day and further discouraged to hear Randa say we’ll work on it again tomorrow. Ugh.
Aurel and I hook up with new friends Sheila from NYC and Grace from Mexico City for dinner at our new favorite restaurant, Maguib Mahfouz in Khan el Khalili -- pronounce: hen hell-e-ly, with the gutteral ‘H‘. We’ve decided that this will be a really early night for us so we can get some much needed sleep. Our hotel is in Giza, about 20 minutes outside of Cairo, but in traffic a one-hour ride. And there is ALWAYS traffic and lots of it. Our dinner is delicious and company good, but once again we return to the hotel after midnight so it’s another 2:00 a.m. night.
I dread class in the morning and another day of the ‘new routine,’ but don’t dare skip.
Randa arrives smiling and full of energy and with a new plan. She starts from the very beginning of the routine and breaks down every single combination. Over and over again we run through the steps till we do them correctly. She simply will not give up on us. Suddenly, this challenging choreography has become really fun.
Earlier in the week, an afternoon that class size looked a little sparse, Randa pointed out that this is a ‘course’ not a dance festival. It’s work and fun, but lots of work. She expects us to behave professionally, attend every class in a timely manner and not talk in class (seems to be a problem for some). Hers and our commitment to the classes is bearing fruit today, and by 5:00 when our week with Randa comes to an end I know I‘ve been through something extraordinary.
Having said that, I’m not at all looking forward to my performance with the band this evening. My dance style is completely different from the modern Egyptian style I am studying, where there are no zils, few soft arm movement and a different way of shimmying. It’s like dancing with my hands tied behind my back. To make matters worse, most of the dancers have studied with Randa before, or are at least very familiar with the Egyptian style. I feel like a duck out of water.
I’ve been toying with the idea of backing out of the show, but finally talk myself into hanging in. After all, I may never have the chance to dance in Cairo with a six-piece Egyptian band again. In my spare time - usually the 1 a.m. hour - I’ve worked on some of the new steps I’ve learned this week and plan to use them in my show, sort of a tip of the hat to Randa. Other than that, I’ll just do my dance and try to enjoy myself. In just three hours I’ll find out!
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