Join Anna as she drills some basic Sa’idi style stick (called an “assaya”) twirling techniques forward and back, as well as at different speeds.

These twirls can be used by Belly Dancers wishing to practice their Upper Egyptian Folkloric Saidi style.

The name “Sa’idi” refers to a region of Egypt south of Cairo, that’s referred to as Upper Egypt. Since ancient times, Egyptians have used sticks in warfare. A martial art called Tahtib developed over the centuries. Today, Tahtib is still in use, as a fighting sport in Egypt.

The folk dances of Egypt reflect aspects of Egyptian culture. The Assaya dance is one of the most beloved folkloric dances of Egypt and is a very popular performance style with Egyptian-style belly dancers.