Ballet

Well, I did go to see an opera . . . . . and I suggested that the ballet might be next . . . . and it almost was.

Our condo complex here in Toronto is called RadioCITY. It is an interesting place, and unique in many aspects. It is called ‘RadioCITY”, because it was built on the site of CBC’s original radio tower. Apparently part of the complex was originally a convent and the nuns in the convent made a deal with the developer so that the retired nuns were given one entire floor of the condo for the former residents of the convent. They actually live on the floor under us, and although I am not at all religious, somehow having the nuns living downstairs is comforting, and we never have to complain about noisy parties or loud music. Attached to the complex is the National Ballet School, and we often see students or instructors relaxing on a rooftop terrace outside our windows and we see students coming and going to their school. We always wondered what went on in the school and would’ve liked to go to the theatre to see a performance, but when we researched it, we were unable to find any performances we could attend. 

This historical house was incorporated
into the school

On Sunday however, the Ballet School had a Block Party and opened the school to visitors and we eagerly went to see inside the school. 

The Block Party really was a big event. There was a giant Bouncy Ride in the lane between the buildings and it was busy all day with happy laughing children. The driveway out front of the school was used for more games and an area was cleared for special dance events scheduled all day. The ballet store had sales on clothes and those special fancy ballet shoes. Inside the building four floors were open and we could wander around and get some idea of life in a ballet school. I was even able to convince the security personal to let me go up to the V.I.P. area which was out on the school rooftop balcony so I could take a picture of our condo from there. 

The school theatre, the Betty Oliphant Theatre, was open all day for on-going student practices and the public was invited in to watch these open practices. We went in and watched two practice sessions. We caught the later part of a senior student ballet class which was very high level ballet done by ten male students. Then a large group of grade nine students came out for a “contemporary” dance lesson. We were very impressed with these students. They were just beginning the class with this instructor and some of the students had learned the moves just before coming into the theatre. Watching these young dancers we were impressed with their progression. The entire group were introduced to a totally new move and we were able to watch them go from learning to actually mastering the dance moves they were taught. Unfortunately this was a “No Photo” event so I do not have any photos of the actual dancing. 

Inside the school

So now, as I look out of the condo onto the dance school, I view it differently since I now know a little of what is going on in there. 

Flying Fingers and Twirling Feet

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Wekalet El-Ghouri

Our friends living here in Cairo always take any of their guests from Canada to see the El-Tanoura Troupe, so they have probably seen it at least 10 times, but when they took us, they still tried to fill their camera memory card with pictures. Yes that is how good this show is.

Commonly called a “Whirling Dervish” show, it is actually a mixed dance and music performance. Housed in the formally open courtyard of a beautiful old school, you are surrounded with ancient Egyptian architecture while you wait for the show.

However, getting into the show is a big part of the adventure. Situated on a back street, you first have to navigate through street vendors, taxies, motorcycles and pedestrians all vying for spots on the very narrow street. The entrance to buy tickets (No pre-sales for the limited seats) is down slippery ancient stone steps crowded with a mix of tourists and locals. I quickly found that the usual “Canadian” attitude of “Oh, I'm sorry, were you ahead of me?” had to be replaced with an adoption of the local aggressive use of elbows and attitude to force your way to the front. Otherwise we would have been left out on the steps. We also had the advantage of our friends cane wielding mother who managed to find a nice seat up front and then convinced them to allow her companions to sit with her.

The duel . . .

The show started with a brilliant drum and Egyptian instrument band, including an entertaining duel between a drummer and a castanet player. Then the first dancer came out. These Whirling Dervishes are dressed in bright colours and wear long heavy multi-level “Skirts” which when the begin to spin flair out around them. What is amazing about these dancers is that they twirl in one direction for up to 30 minutes without stopping, constantly spinning their skirts out around them in brilliant patterns, up, down, sideways and over their heads. The outfits feature multiple layers and during the show, they detach one layer and spin it over their heads creating a double layer of skirt. This first dancer spun for a full 25 minutes (we were told to time him). And some patrons actually thought the show was over and left to avoid the crush getting out.

They should have stayed; the next act featured three dancers in even more elaborate outfits, spinning any twirling around the stage among the drummers who were also spinning and dancing. It really was an amazing performance and I took over 100 photos, so here are a few. Also, you might want to check out a YouTube video of the performance El-Tanoura Troupe, WekaletEl-Ghouri.