Introducing: Ghawazee...

Ghawazee -- Description --Dancers -- Musicians -- Photos -- Schedule -- Links

Life is like a ghaziya, she dances just briefly for each
-- Egyptian Proverb

We are called invaders because that is what we do ... we invade peoples hearts with our dance and music.
-- The Maazin Family, reputedly last of the true gypsy ghawazee.

"In Egyptian villages a professional dancer is known as a ghaziya (pl. ghawazee). The original ghawazee were gypsies, thought the word has come to be used as a generic term for dancers rather than to denote a particular tribe, or tribes, as was once the case. The Egyptian (word) ghawazee means invaders, or outsiders as gypsies have indeed always lived on the outskirts of town and on the fringes of society." --from Serpent of the Nile - Women and Dance in the Arab World, by Wendy Buonaventura.

Although none of our troupe are gypsies or (directly) of Middle Eastern descent, Ghawazee strives to bring the feeling, style, and folkloric dance traditions of the Middle Eastern ghawazee to the American Middle Eastern dance community. The dance troupe, Ghawazee, was formed in September of 1995. It originated as an idea and dream shared by Neefa, Eledi, and Shakti (Emily Klaczak). Although Shakti is no longer a part of the troupe, she continues to be our supportive friend as well as our #1 fan. Ghawazee was conceived as a forum for Middle Eastern dance that would display and educate, as well as entertain the public. Most of the dancers, who were already soloists, felt that a troupe atmosphere would expand the creative medium. Bakesh, Nalani, and Audrey were also original members of the troupe. Olivia joined when Shakti left and recently Tamara has become a member. Originally the troupe danced primarily to recorded music, however in the fall of 1996 the dancers were joined by a rag-tag group of musicians.

Ghawazee performances are a mixture of choreography and improvisation. The musicians have a number of pieces that are performed regularly, but the length and feeling of the piece can be dynamic and depends on the dancer and the mood. Some group numbers are choreographed, as well as duets, but most solo pieces are done in the improvisational style that is common to traditional folk Middle Eastern dance and music.

Check out our schedule of performances.

Ghawazee -- Description --Dancers -- Musicians -- Photos -- Schedule -- Links