Shaabi dance/music belongs to the people, the simple people of Egypt. Shaab = people; shaabi=popular, that which is from the people.
It´s not about being cute, pleasant or harmonious. Real life, from real people, is often tough, cruel, unfair. And “shaabi” reflects that.
Although I don´t expect foreign audiences to fully understand the meaning of what I do – a dance which is deeply immersed in Egyptian culture and correspondent sub-cultures -, I know there´s an UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE that appeals to all of us, independently of our nationality, cultural, religious and educational background. It´s from that common thread that I create. I hope you can feel it in this video.
