Al-Zaieem answers all your questions about Egypt. Ask him your question here.

Salam Ya Zaieem,
I would like to find out if one is able to obtain a work permit in Egypt to be allowed to work as a dancer. I am from a Middle Eastern heritage.
Mutshakera awee

You either didn't sign your letter or the name got cut off, so Al Zaieem will call you "Fifi."

Fifi, to answer your question, Al Zaieem went straight to the source. Francesca Sullivan, a foreign-born dancer and journalist, offers the following overview of the local dancer marketplace.

"To obtain a work permit, a dancer must be present here, and have a contract from a hotel or night-club (there are ways of getting these without actually auditioning and obtaining a nightly spot to dance in, though it's getting harder and harder to do it the non-direct way). The preparation of all the papers takes up to two months or more, during which time the dancer must be present here. She then submits her passport and is given a residency card in its place (the passport remains in the Mogamma, the large administrative building in Tahrir Square where much beaurocracy takes place). This card is only issued on a monthly basis, and must be continually renewed."

So the first thing you'll have to do, Fifi, is come to Egypt and, from the sound of it, jump through what sounds like a daunting array of procedural hoops. The Mogamma in Tahrir square is, in Al Zaieem's opinion, as grim and depressing a place as exits on the planet, but your path to a dance permit does appear to lie in its winding dusty corridors.

As for actually landing a job, Francesca offers this insight.

"Foreign dancers compete with one another and the local Egyptians for a dwindling number of jobs in a dwindling number of venues. A new dancer must find herself an orchestra, rehearse and prepare a show with them, and have the appropriate skills, costumes etc etc.

All of this sounds tough and so it is. However, for a fresh face in town (especially if she is young and good-looking) there is always a good chance of finding some kind of work, even though it's unlikely to be in a five-star hotel with a 20-piece orchestra."

And once you do find work, your troubles aren't quite over yet, Fifi. Although Middle Eastern dance is hailed as a legitimate artform in many places outside of the Middle East, the profession here exists along the seedier outskirts of society. You can expect to deal with shady club owners and hotel managers, as well as law enforcement officials on a regular basis. One local dance instructor--who doesn't dance professionally--said there was a vice squad unit on dance.

So there you have it, Fifi. Your only option is to come to Egypt, navigate the treacherous waters of Egyptian bureaucracy and launch yourself into a tight and competitive Egyptian market. Francesca offers one final piece of advice. "You have to be ruthlessly determined!"

Sounds like you have a challenging path ahead. Keep in touch and let Al Zaieem and his loyal minions know how it goes.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

MAKE YOUR
VOICE HEARD
Send a comment to cairolive.com 

Browse previous Ask Al-Zaieem columns here.

Disclaimer and Terms of Use
© Copyright 1996-2005 cairolive.com. All Rights Reserved

Read Tarek Atia's web log
Find out how the world media sees Egypt...

UPDATED DAILY!

The ultimate
East-West
world-view

 
Instant Arabic headlines