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Ghawazee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ghawazee (Ghawazi) are an ethnic group that have been exoticized in Western travel literature regarding Egypt since the 18th century as particularly sensual and are probably the origin for the contemporary notion of belly dance.
The Ghawazee were banished from Cairo to Upper Egypt by Muhammad Ali. Typically, the Ghawazee are represented as Gypsies, with a particular attention to their music and dance styles, featuring mizmars and heavy bass lines.
Representing diverse historical backgrounds, most of the Ghawazee of the Qena region belong to ethnic minorities such as the Nawar (or Nawara), Halab, and Bahlawen.
Particularly well known are the Banat Marzin family, Nawar gypsys that settled in Luxor and were filmed in the 70's and 80's.
The style of dance and costuming of the Ghawazee has been especially influential in crafting the look of American Tribal Style bellydance.
Their social status is very low due to both the historic associations with prostitution and the revealing of the body before strangers.
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