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Esraa Warda Interview for Raqs Online

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Esraa Warda is a performance and teaching artist that preserves and transmits traditional Moroccan and Algerian dance forms through workshops and performances.

A young talent of Algerian origin, Warda is a community-taught dancer under the mentorship of women elders in her family and artists from Morocco and Algeria. She is a firm advocate in the power of intergenerational transmission. Warda honors her women ancestors by humbling herself to the value, power, dignity of these distinguished artistic expressions. 

Learn More About Esraa Warda on her website: https://www.esraawarda.com/

Explore Esraa's Classes at Raqs Online

Interview Notes

Intro

2:24 About Esraa and her background and how she started dancing at a young age

6:00 North African Dance Battle, Esraa recognizes her dance could be a talent

7:25 The seed was planted, Esraa begins dreaming about teaching women for fun and the rest is history.

10:25 Esraa talks about how culture and art are born out of struggle and her personal challenges and the stigmas she has had to overcome and face.

15:00 The Western invasion of North African and Arab dances.

17:45 Esraa paints the scene and setting of North African dance and music in the social setting, (And a fun story about dancing and mopping).

23:25 We find out how flirty Esraa is and her definition of platonic intimacy

25:05 The breakdown of Rai and Moroccan Chaabi.

30:16 The different types of Arab Pop music Shaabi/Chaabi

32:54 Arabic language dialects and who were the indigenous people of North Africa (not Berber, find out why)

40:34 The influence of Egypt on Arab culture

41:45 Indigenous North African dances

44:40 The impact of colonialism on these indigenous dances. Mentioned reference Amel Tafsout:

https://ameltafsout.com/

50:02 How Esraa stays connected to her culture living in New York

53:58 "If you want to be an artist you have to earn to be an artist". The elders and her "rare juice".

56:00 "North Africa is a multi-dimensional place" breaking stereotypes

58:25 Esraa's thoughts on "Fusion" and the evolution of art. Why you can't learn everything on YouTube and why artists shouldn't be put on pedestals but should stay humble!!!

And stay in touch with Esraa Warda at her Facebook, IG, and website: https://www.esraawarda.com/

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