Contemporary Oriental Dance

The female oriental solo dance is a dance of great expressive power and force. It is consecrating, healing, affirming the essence of being – an archaic, universal motion language feeding off of the energy source which originates between the soloist and participating dancers, the soloist and music and the soloist and spectators. For centuries female oriental dance has not only touched and moved the people in the Middle East, its place of origin, but all around the world.

In search of this culture-uniting source Raksan has become a cross-border artist, balancing between Orient and Occident. During her 20 year career as a professional stage (belly-)dancer she continues to question her role, its expression and appearance in regards to the unreflected manner in which night clubs of both the Oriental and Western World have reduced this motion tradition to its preconception of aesthetic display. Free of the stereotypical clichés and false glamour, Raksan reverts to the core statement of this ancient Oriental and Egyptian art form, combining it with basics of western academic stage dances such as classical ballet and modern dance.

Of high professional quality and carried by true emotion, this symbiosis of East and West leads to an authentic artistic expression without losing sight of the roots and spirit of Oriental Dance. The basic principle of polycentrics and the diverse and complex use of isolated swinging hip and upper-body movements as central force are combined with extensive step-patterns, a varied and expressive use of the arms and dynamic spins. Contrary to traditional Egyptian-based guidelines the ground is naturally integrated into the dance as a choreographic tool, the stage area’s legitimacy is analyzed, found out and filled with presence. The dancer communicates with her body and the audience… a form of sensual dialog that takes the superficial impact from the term “entertainment” and leads it back to its original meaning.