The Whirling Dervish

Yasser was born in Alexandria, Egypt on the coast of the Mediterranean. He learned dance as a child from his uncle who led a semi-professional dance group that performed at weddings and local community events. When he was 18, he studied with the Alexandria Folk Dance Group, the State dance company that offered a training program for promising young dancers. After only one year, he was invited to join the professional performing company with whom he toured internationally.

Yasser was also seen on public television and large scale national celebrations for prominent celebrities including the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak. Yasser worked with the company for ten years before joining the National Folkloric Dance Company of Egypt. He participated on national tours with this group for almost two years. During this time he also became a master of Tanoura or the Whirling Dervish dance: a style inspired by a meditation associated with the mystical religious order Sufism – originating from present day Syria and Turkey.

His costume even lights up!

https://vimeo.com/583456757

A distinct Egyptian variant developed that Yasser performs and from which he derives his name – Darwish.

Lincoln Center The Egyptian Embassy of New York City Westchester Arts Council

The United Nations City University of New YorkThe National Arts ClubQueens Arts CouncilThe Arabic American AssociationThe Arab American Professionals

The Egyptian American BusinessmenThe Brooklyn Arts Council

Houston Texas Arab American Festival

San Francisco Arab Festival.

Perform for Qatar air line in Houston