Places

Egyptian, like all other kinds of professional dance performance, is entirely context dependant. You can see anyone in Cairo, from the "stars" in the comfort of 5-star surroundings to the "hopefuls" in sleezy joints, almost any night of the week.

The 5-star performers can afford the best orchestras/bands making the music worth the money, even if the dancing turns out not to be your taste, while, in the cheaper venues, you can have a lot more fun (and participate - make sure the appreciation doesn't become over enthusiastic) as long as you can stand the reverb. There are plenty of "in-between" venues too.

5-star venues (Intercontinental, Sheraton, Meridien, Nile Maxim and Pharaon boats) will cost between 250-400LE (Egyptian Pounds) but include a four course meal, cover band before and singer after the dancer. Dina, however, can cost up to 700LE. Most hotel-based nightclubs start around 11pm and finish around, or after, 3am. The boats are earlier.

Mena House and the Mariot Hotels have reopened their nightclubs with the Mariot not having a minimum charge.

The mid-range clubs (including Lucy's Paradise Club, Vendome, Andalous, Pyramids Hotel and the Europa) cost between 150-250 LE, start and finish a lot later with the best dancers usually at the end of a long line of bands/dancers before them.

The cheap clubs are found in downtown Cairo (Paradiso, Sheherazade, Arizona) and cost less than 50LE. They are late too.

All the above cater to mainly Egyptian audiences (except the boats) but there are performances for tourists (eg the Felafel Restaurant in the Ramses Hilton) although these tend to lack the 'atmosphere' of the others.

Don't miss the Tanoura (free on Wednesdays and Saturdays) but check in your hotel for times and venue (they have changed four times in the last two years).

If you are staying in a hotel you can check at the reception/concierge desk. They will give you the phone numbers of all the venues - these tend to change as often as the programmes.

Good dancers to look out for are Dina, Rhanda Kamel and Camilia but ask when you arrive as the scene is always changing.

If you need information regarding specific requirements contact: info@bellydance.co.uk.