I knew about the “Stop and Dance” component of the Shaware3na project when I was surfing the Internet. Speaking about the experience, I have to say it was very funny, interesting, and a challenging one.

I really got excited about the idea when I knew about it, however, I was so scared and hesitated to join, because the main idea of the project is to dance publicly in streets. What a shock I felt when I read the words "dance" and "streets" in the same sentence here in Egypt!

I consider the concept of dancing as a big problem in Egypt. Egyptians don’t naturally accept the idea of dancing. For many, dancing in Egypt means “Belly Dancing” and that’s it. Its only except for few interested groups of young Egyptians, who are more open to the world and can accept other dancing types.

So, I told myself that many Egyptians might be shocked to see contemporary Hip Hop Capoeira dance being performed in public!

To participate in this project and perform in the street means, for me, that the move itself requires a good deal of courage. It was challenging to perform in the streets and to control myself when I hear any silly comments from some pedestrians, expressing their displeasure.

In a two-week workshop, Birgitt Bodingbauer, Paulina Almeida and Karima Mansour helped and prepared us to the street battle! They trained us on what can we expect while performing in the streets.

The workshop was great and useful… and then came the performances and it was really amazing more than anyone can imagine, the people on the streets were interactive and pleased, especially when we performed at Qser El Niel bridge. I have to say “Oh My God” it was better than I have ever imagined.

I did perform in the street in front of people and not in a theatre, where performances normally take place.

I really couldn't ever think that people would love our public dancing that much. I could see people excited to join the performance, to dance and sing!

I will never forget what I felt that day after the show. Finally, I would say this performance was the most wonderful experience in my entire life.

This reflection story is written by Amany Atef, one of the participants of the “Stop and Dance” performances of Shaware3na project. To read more about Shaware3na and it’s components, please click here

The focus of my work in the urban space is to explore the human condition in these surroundings, and interact with the city and its inhabitants to convey this exploration. I strive to create a non-verbal dialogue between the inhabitants of the city and myself…to be able to communicate some of that process of change to some of the inhabitants of the city, and leave some of it behind, like a public diary of sorts.

The reflection was written by Katrine Ring, a Danish DJ, who participated in the Art, Culture and Dialogue “Streets of Cairo” during the summer of 2010.