AUC Folklore Troupe: Immortalizing Egyptian Dance and Music

The American College in Cairo (AUC) Folklore Troupe, a student-led group on the American College in Cairo, brings Egypt’s wealthy dance traditions to life by way of rehearsal and efficiency. 

Based within the Nineteen Seventies by Hassan Afifi, the troupe attracts on regional and historic folks dances from throughout the nation. At this time, beneath the steering of choreographer Hassan Farouk and coach/designer Mohamed El Faramawy, AUC college students proceed to have a good time and carry out these vibrant traditions. 

We spoke to 4 troupe members to study extra about what conjures up them and the way they join with Egypt’s folkloric heritage.

A Chief and Cultural Ambassador

Sherry Wael, 22, an Built-in Advertising scholar, had developed an curiosity in dance greater than a decade in the past, drawn by its magnificence and expressive potential. Nonetheless, it was not till her time at AUC that she actually embraced dance as a calling. 

“I explored Latin dance courses, led by an teacher I had admired from a distance for years on social media,” she explains. “The second I stepped into the dance studio, I felt an immediate connection that resonated deep inside me.” 

Dance offered Wael with a way of belonging and success that she had yearned for, and would profoundly form her school expertise.

When the AUC Latin dance membership confronted logistical challenges and finally disbanded, Wael skilled a void in her life. 

“It was throughout this time that I found the AUC Folklore Troupe in September 2023,” says Wael.  

With solely three fellow college students taking part initially in 2023, the folklore membership had dwindled, however Wael noticed potential the place others noticed obstacles. Recognizing a deeper connection to her Egyptian heritage, she immersed herself in folklore dance, discovering its wealthy storytelling parts and emotional depth.

In February 2024, the AUC Folklore Troupe was set to characterize Egypt at a global competition in France. This announcement made by the Workplace of Scholar Life (OSL) was a turning level for Wael, remodeling her dedication from that of a dancer to a cultural ambassador. 

“I took on the function of rebuilding the troupe with enthusiasm, decided to instill a way of delight and possession within the members. With the assist of the OSL , I orchestrated advertising and marketing methods, social media initiatives, and group outreach to reignite curiosity in folklore dance at AUC,” she says.

Her dedication resulted in a rising troupe stuffed with passionate dancers (30 dancers) who shared her imaginative and prescient. Every rehearsal grew to become a celebration of collaboration and creativity, because the members bonded over their shared love of dance and heritage. 

Regardless of societal stereotypes that usually affiliate feminine dancers with objectification, or ethical disapproval somewhat than artistry, Wael pushed by way of, fueled by the enjoyment of efficiency and the delight she felt representing her tradition on stage, reflecting broader efforts by Egyptian ladies to reclaim dance as revered cultural expression. 

Discovering Pleasure and Group By way of Dance

For Omar Abd El Hady, 21, dance is each a interest and a familial connection cast by way of the AUC dance group as he was impressed by his friends to pursue dancing. 

The nurturing surroundings allowed him to thrive, the place every efficiency is infused with camaraderie and teamwork. 

“Dance provides me the distinctive alternative to specific myself and join with audiences, eliciting applause that fills me with delight and success,” he shares. 

Whereas Abd El Hady research Laptop Science on the AUC, he could not have skilled dramatic milestones in his journey up to now, however he acknowledges the importance of performing frequently earlier than an viewers. 

Abd El Hady states that ”the experiences in cultural festivals and occasions have helped me overcome stage fright and step outdoors my consolation zone. By way of every efficiency, I turn into extra assured and resilient, embodying the essence of what it means to be a dancer within the trendy age.” 

In his view, dance serves as a strong medium for cultural expression, enabling him to interact with the various traditions that form Egypt’s dance heritage. 

By way of the AUC Folklore Troupe, these traditions are represented in performances drawn from totally different areas of the nation, together with Tanoura, Eskandarani, and different Higher Egyptian and Delta-inspired kinds, tailored for the stage whereas sustaining their cultural context.

Dance as a Connection to Roots

Holy Seweify, 19, began dancing ballet and appearing when she was a toddler, which offered her with an introductory understanding of motion and expression. 

“All through my college years learning at Psychology & Theatre at AUC, my ardour for appearing led me to interact in musical productions, however it was the AUC Folklore Troupe that solidified my ardour for dance.” 

Upon becoming a member of in September 2024, Seweify found that folklore encompassed each motion and storytelling; it was a medium by way of which she may join together with her Egyptian roots.

“For me, folklore dance represents a strong type of cultural expression that permits me to discover and embody the tales of ladies from totally different cultural backgrounds and historic eras. It has turn into a core a part of my identification, permitting me to speak feelings and concepts past the confines of language,” Seweify states. 

Connecting to Id By way of Folklore

Adham Gohar, 22, a pc science main, developed an curiosity in dance by way of his publicity to Egyptian tradition throughout a highschool trade expertise as a part of the Kennedy–Lugar Youth Alternate and Research (KL-YES) program, funded by the U.S. Division of State and administered in Egypt by way of the American Discipline Service (AFS), which is a global nonprofit group that runs scholar trade and intercultural studying applications. 

Gohar explains, “Watching the AUC Folklore Troupe carry out for the primary time “ sparked a real curiosity about my cultural heritage, I felt a direct connection— a second that marked the start of my journey.” 

For Gohar, dance creates an genuine connection together with his roots and permits him to interact authentically together with his Egyptian identification.

Being a male dancer has not been with out its challenges, notably in overcoming societal perceptions which will view dance as an exercise reserved just for females.

By way of his experiences, Gohar has turn into a passionate advocate for the accessibility of dance; he believes that it may resonate with anybody, no matter their gender and background.

A big milestone in Gohar’s dance journey occurred in the course of the AUC Folklore Troupe’s participation within the OSLDance Night time 2025. 

“The efficiency pushed the boundaries of custom because the dancers embraced classical strikes impressed by the golden age of Egyptian cinema (Nineteen Forties by way of the Sixties),” he tells Egyptian Streets.

This expertise solidified Gohar’s conviction that dance is a dynamic and evolving artwork kind that may bridge gaps and foster group.

With college students resembling Sherry Wael, Omar Abd El Hady, Holy Seweify, and Adham Gohar, the AUC Folklore Troupe offers a platform for exploring and performing conventional Egyptian dance. Its work engages college students with cultural heritage, promotes inclusive participation throughout genders, and highlights the academic and creative worth of folklore.