Cleopatra Dance Fest 2024 was my first Egyptian Dance Festival experience, I was a virgin in dance festivals. There were many rumors and warnings about festivals in general and people who didn’t want me to go to this festival specific. I’m a person who listens to my gut feeling, in the past my gut feeling warned me and I didn’t listen. My gut feeling and my guardian angel we’re obvious that it was a good choice going to this festival when hearing about it so I went there anyway. I bought a gala dress which I liked so much I didn’t sleep all night after buying it and couldn’t wait to wear it on the event. Before and by the start of the festival I felt tensed and excited at the same time because I was completely alone and it was my first time. I’m a very social person and I like to go on adventures like this. The opening gala was amazing and I was amazed by all the people who were present and the strong energy I felt. The live music to open the festival and the entrance to the room where the opening show was given, the red carpet gave me the feeling I was a star. During the festival there are people filming the event. It was a special experience for sure being around so many dancers from all corners of the world. I made a jump in the deep as I went there after studying Oriental Dance for 1.5 years. Many people around me called me ‘crazy’ to go on stage and participating in my first competition in a festival so highly as this. A lot of professional dancers, festival owners etc.
Also dancers of different levels, but the workshops given are professional level. Educational festivals like this one and others are the best way to grow in experience and challenge yourself also connecting with other dancers and like minded people. I enjoyed watching the shows that we’re organized, even though I struggled during the workshops I was so proud of myself on how I did the workshops and managed the dance hours and the program. Late nights and early mornings, but so worth it. We went for a day out to a beach approximately 1 hour distance from the location of the festival, I was arranged in a group and we shared a room to put our stuff and we enjoyed the sun, had a relaxed day combined with dancing together and making a group picture etc. before going back to the location of the festival and have a evening off before starting with workshops the day after.
The night before both my performances I didn’t sleep at all because I was so nervous and excited at the same time because I prepared for one month and not as most people would prepare and of course due to it was my first experience going on stage in Egypt. The show and competition started later in the evening/night time, I went on stage and danced the choreographies. Something went wrong during my show and during my competition I had a black out but continued anyway, what in my opinion really shows character and can happen to any dancer. I’m very proud on my performances even though I also learned what a competition, the feeling of being judged did with me at that time. This is part of the journey, it showed me what I needed to work on personally but also as a dancer in general. Being yourself and show your dance on stage is something beautiful and magical especially for a public highly as present on this event. What they advertise is true, the biggest price is already the courage for going on stage.
Mohamed Shahin and his team we’re before and during the festival very helpful and friendly, I felt welcome. I got interviewed on my experience and tagged on social media platforms after coming home which I’m still very proud off and always will be. My experience was to describe in one word ‘unforgettable’. For me Cleopatra Dance fest will always have a special place in my heart. I still watch the videos with a big smile on my face and love in my heart.
