Aisha Ali |
Aisha Ali is an internationally known expert on the regional
dances of Egypt and North Africa, and a well-respected
performer of the oriental dance. During the 1970s she
performed at nightclubs in Hollywood and London as well
as the Middle East, and was the first American to dance
with the Banat Maazin – a celebrated family of gypsy
entertainers – known as Ghawazee, performing at
weddings and celebrations in the Thebes area of Upper
Egypt.
Ali began her field studies in Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon in
1971 and made subsequent visits to Egypt and North Africa
during the following 28 years, to collect disappearing
folkloric materials. In Tunisia, Aisha was the featured
soloist at the Municipal Theater in Sfax where she was
asked to form a dance troupe through the Maison de la
Culture. Later she traveled to Algeria to observe and
photograph the Ouled Naïl, a tribal group known for their
dancing women.
During her career she has made television and film
appearances as well as an MTV video with the group
"Chicago." She has done workshop and performance tours
throughout the United States, the major cities of Europe,
and the Pacific Rim, and gives lectures/demonstrations at
various universities.
Aisha teaches at her Los Angeles studio, where she has
trained many of the city’s leading belly dancers. She
choreographs for and directs her group, The Aisha Ali
Dance Company, which made its first appearance at the Los
Angeles Music Center in 1973. The group continues to
perform at colleges, Middle Eastern weddings, and cultural
festivals throughout California.
As a result of her fieldwork, she has produced six audio CD
recordings and released two video documentaries, Dances
of Egypt and Dances of North Africa, an instructional video,
Tunisian Rhythms and Raqs Shaabi, and two volumes of
Aisha Dances, featuring her performance repertoire.
Volume I, Egyptian Dances, features examples from the
various regions of Egypt, and Volume II, Dances of the Arab
World, covers Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and Baladi, as well as
dances from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and the Khalij.
She is presently in the process of editing the digital
footage of gypsy performers at a month long Saidi
wedding, which she photographed during her last visit to
Upper Egypt.
dances of Egypt and North Africa, and a well-respected
performer of the oriental dance. During the 1970s she
performed at nightclubs in Hollywood and London as well
as the Middle East, and was the first American to dance
with the Banat Maazin – a celebrated family of gypsy
entertainers – known as Ghawazee, performing at
weddings and celebrations in the Thebes area of Upper
Egypt.
Ali began her field studies in Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon in
1971 and made subsequent visits to Egypt and North Africa
during the following 28 years, to collect disappearing
folkloric materials. In Tunisia, Aisha was the featured
soloist at the Municipal Theater in Sfax where she was
asked to form a dance troupe through the Maison de la
Culture. Later she traveled to Algeria to observe and
photograph the Ouled Naïl, a tribal group known for their
dancing women.
During her career she has made television and film
appearances as well as an MTV video with the group
"Chicago." She has done workshop and performance tours
throughout the United States, the major cities of Europe,
and the Pacific Rim, and gives lectures/demonstrations at
various universities.
Aisha teaches at her Los Angeles studio, where she has
trained many of the city’s leading belly dancers. She
choreographs for and directs her group, The Aisha Ali
Dance Company, which made its first appearance at the Los
Angeles Music Center in 1973. The group continues to
perform at colleges, Middle Eastern weddings, and cultural
festivals throughout California.
As a result of her fieldwork, she has produced six audio CD
recordings and released two video documentaries, Dances
of Egypt and Dances of North Africa, an instructional video,
Tunisian Rhythms and Raqs Shaabi, and two volumes of
Aisha Dances, featuring her performance repertoire.
Volume I, Egyptian Dances, features examples from the
various regions of Egypt, and Volume II, Dances of the Arab
World, covers Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and Baladi, as well as
dances from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and the Khalij.
She is presently in the process of editing the digital
footage of gypsy performers at a month long Saidi
wedding, which she photographed during her last visit to
Upper Egypt.
| Comments or experiences to share about Aisha Ali? Let us know! |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
“Once you begin to understand and feel the music, it will become your choreographer, providing you with endless variations of movement as the rhythms and melodies unfold.” --Aisha Ali |
| An extensive list of authentic music and videos can be viewed at Aisha Ali's website. |
