Russian belly-dancer Noora has filed a lawsuit against Labor and Immigration Affairs Minister Ahmed Al Amawi's recent ruling that prevents non-Egyptians from receiving belly dancing licenses. The dancer has claimed that the art of belly dancing is a matter that concerns the Ministry of Culture and not the Ministry of Labor.
According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Noora added that a new Egyptian law has given permission to foreign dancer to work in Egypt as long as they pay the fine for the work permits, and it is not the Ministry of Labor is not liable to cancel such a decision.
The dancer added that she has helped in increasing the employment rate by having over 40 Egyptian dancers working in her group, in addition to the fact that she has contributed in improving tourism in Egypt.
Recently, Egypt has decided to ban foreign belly dancers from performing the ancient act in the North African country by a ruling from the Labor and Immigration minister preventing non-Egyptians from receiving belly dancing and tourist guides licenses as of the beginning of next year.
Egyptian belly dancers are believed to have pressed for the ruling to prevent foreign dancers from "taking their work." Lately, there has been an influx into the country of foreign performers, especially from Russia and Eastern Europe, who have taken up the exotic oriental traditional dance. Several foreign women have reportedly risen to fame with their special act and talent.
Before this ruling it was revealed that working permits will be granted to foreign belly-dancers wishing to work in Egypt. It requested that permits be made to all Russian and other European dancers who are currently working in nightclubs and bars around Egypt.
The new order/law requires that any foreign dancer wishing to work in Egypt must be granted permission from the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Interior to ensure that no illegal acts of prostitution or the sort take place.
It was revealed that the new law has not taken effect yet, for the mere fact that most dancers working in Egypt do not have permits. One French dancer stressed that she has gained huge success in Egypt ever since she began dancing at several nightclubs, but added that she does not have a working permit to dance and stresses that she did not receive any order of having a permit, which makes her think of the matter as just another rumor that will never take effect.
A number of foreign belly-dancers from all around the world have taken up the profession in Egypt and have so far received a lot of success. Most dancers are usually found performing in hotels and tourist resorts in the city of Sharm El Sheikh. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
