Sham3dan is a dance that combines the traditions of traditional Egypt with the elegance of belly dancing. Carrying an impressive candelabra on their heads, nine women bring this tradition to life in a breathtaking choreography of repetition, energy and resilience. Moving synchronously through the space, they highlight Egypt’s history of colonisation and power. The dancers carry not only a candelabra on their heads, but also the weight of their history and of all the emblematic dancers who came before them.

The shamdan dance (Candlestick Dance)is a unique and playful art form that originated in the 19th century when a candlestick-carrying dancer announced a wedding by walking through the city’s dark streets, lighting up the path. Since then, the shamdan dance has been performed during weddings and festive ceremonies. Over the years, the dance changed and mythical stories saw the light of day. For instance, the story is told that Shafiqa Al Kobteya – founder of the Shamedan dance – leaning back with a candelabra on her head balances filled glasses on her belly. Or the story that Zooba El Klobateya had a candelabra of five stories and a whopping 10 kilograms made. Whatever the case, the dance is more than sensual entertainment for the male gaze. With their fire, the dancers influence the politics of the female body. Inspired by these forgotten and invented stories of their Egyptian predecessors, the Nasa4nasa collective evokes a world of female power, colonisation and mysticism.