Ghawazee and Flapper Dresses

From Belindance Studio photo archives of the show "Caravan to Cairo".

In the intermediate class on Feb 14th, 2008, we discussed how different cultures constantly influence each other. I introduced the example of Port Said in Egypt, where workers from all over the world gathered to help build the Suez Canal. The presence of sea-going Russians and Celts in Port Said influenced the local dance form; Port Said dancing now has moves that resemble Celtic jigs and Russian knife dancing in addition to moves  that are more typically "belly dance". Egypt also influenced aspects of other cultures. In North America, we saw flapper dresses (pictured below) and the Charleston come into fashion. The Egyptian fashion of putting rows of dangling beads on women's dresses (e.g. Ghawazee dresses pictured above) very probably inspired flapper dresses.

From: http://www.masks-wigs-and-costumes.com/Theme_Party_Supplies/roaring_20s.asp

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