Globetrotting Tanoura dancer, Karim Al Morshduy, speaks to Yoshita Rao on adapting the ancient dance form for younger generations
An array of colours spin uninterrupted, almost as an approaching tornado of bright hues. The man behind the vibrant yellows, pinks, blues, reds and purples, is dressed in a pink kurta-pajama that light up all at once through LED lights attached to his get-up.
Karim Al Morshduy, 35, has been a Tanoura dancer for two decades and hails from Egypt, where this mesmerising dance form emerged. ‘Tanoura’, which means skirt in Arabic, is meant to be a colourful spectacle in the barren, arid desert lands. With its origins in Sufism, the dance attempts to give thanks to the almighty, while the dancers achieve a trance-like state through the continuous twirling. “I can spin for two hours continuously without stopping,” says Morshduy, who, even after performing three 15-minute sets at Dubai’s Ewaan restaurant, was able to stand straight for an interview with this writer.
1. Tricks of the trade
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Karim says, “When you begin [learning Tanoura], you feel dizzy but after practicing for all these years I don’t feel giddy at all. Most people think I use ‘spotting’ as a tactic while spinning, in that I focus on one point and orient my eyes and head in that direction with every turn. But how can I do that when I am blindfolded?”
2. The balancing act
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Midway through his performance – which also entails balancing eight baskets on his head and juggling them – he blindfolds himself with a scarf attached to his turban and everyone joins in a collective gasp.
3. All about that skirt
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True to form, the dance that focuses on the skirt has a spectacle in store. The two-layered skirt weighs 35kgs and the fast turns of the dancer creates an hourglass structure from cloth.
4. The globetrotting dancer
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After living in the City of Gold for 17 years, Morshduy says he has travelled the world over – including, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Russia and Saudi Arabia – performing Tanoura. “It [Tanoura] is similar to Sufism but it is much more difficult as it is faster and we have to do so many more things in this act,” he says.
The self-taught dancer isn’t picky when it comes to work. “Ferry cruises, private events like weddings and birthday parties... I perform everywhere,” he says. His future plans involve showcasing his dance in Italy and other European countries.
5. Playing with fire
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Speaking about the changes in this dance form, Morshduy says, since he started Tanoura as a 15-year-old, he has added more lights, umbrellas and fire to his performances. Though the Tanoura music is transcendental, Morshduy has also added a few Arabic EDM (Electronic Dance Music) tracks to his act to appeal to the younger crowds.
6. Patience, practice, passion
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With the exception of not being able to eat before the performance, for obvious reasons, he says that you need a lot of practice, strong legs and a lot of energy to perform. “People who perform Tanoura can do any form of folk dances,” he adds.
But the secret to being a good Tanoura dancer, he whispers, is simply to be passionate. “Most importantly, you must love this dance form. If you don’t you will never be able to do it even if you practice for years.”
