You Asked Aunt Rocky
You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi, by Genevieve (Mary Beth Abel)
I have in my hand an autographed copy of this book. It’s inscribed with Morocco’s signature and her wish for “Happy Dancing!” In emailing her about making a purchase, she stated that she remembered me well (from only a few meetings and workshops). That Morocco is such a gracious and supportive “aunt” to our dance community is reflected in her personal interactions with me and countless other and in this wonderful book, which colorfully expresses over 50 years of experience in dance.
So, buy it now to have Aunt Rocky just a page turn away (www.casbahdance.org)!
You Asked’s beginnings
This book had its beginnings in the 1990s as lengthy, humorous, and info-packed responses on an Internet group called med-dance chatlist founded by Eileen Bauer. I first began subscribing in the early 2000s. I loved reading Aunt Rocky’s responses and printed out many of them (terribly worried that if I didn’t I might lose something important). And then I began hearing on the chatlist that a book was in the works.
Here we are in 2012, and we finally have it! It’s a dream come true.
There’s more than you imagine
Morocco’s book is an organized collection of these chatlist responses. Topics range from tales while abroad and history of the dance to teaching, techniques, and “cautionary tales.” The book includes images from Morocco’s travels, a glossary, bibliography, and index. In short, it’s a wonderful resource for getting steeped in a tradition of loving and practicing this dance form in a way that honors it and cultivates respect for it. My personal opinion is that Morocco is kicking off such a tradition with this book (or she might say it’s a kick in the pants—that phrase sounds like something she would say). I know many people are devoted to this cause already and that it isn’t new, but this book seem to provide a way to collect and unify if only because the “talking points” are all in place in one lively resource.
On this note, I think the most significant topic addressed in the book is how to refer to our dance form. The correct way is to call it Raqs Sharqi , which in Arabic means “Oriental dance.” And Morocco devotes a whole chapter, titled What’s in a Name? More Than You Imagine . . . , to this issue. The other term (“misnomer”) for the dance is usually referred to as the “b word.”
Burning questions answered here!
But, of course, there’s more. The book is arranged so that you can easily arrive at topics you are curious about. However, Morocco’s note that came with the book requested a front cover-to-back cover reading because the topics build. I’ve haven’t had the discipline to do that, but I would like to eventually do so.
I guess I’ve just had too many burning questions for too long like How do you spell gallabiya? and What exactly is shaabi? and other such questions.
A must read and a must buy
In summary, I believe this book is a must for any Raqs Sharqi dancer who is serious about this dance form and wishes to bring respect to it within the greater arts and dance communities. It’s a must for deepening your understanding of the dance, its music, and history. And it’s a must to have because it’s inspiring and that makes for—I must quote—“Happy Dancing!”
Yours in dance,
Genevieve (a.k.a. Mary Beth Abel)
DanceNomad 