Introduction
The Copts are an ethno-religious minority in Egypt, taking up about 10% of the population, and practicing an ancient form of Christianity. Since the Arab invasions in the 600s AD, they have experienced a long history of abuses: whether it be violent attacks on churches and homes, or more day to day marginalization. Throughout our study of Egyptian dance and dancers, I became curious as to the true universality of these experiences, particularly having my Coptic heritage in mind. In this chapter, I set out to create a context for social, political, and geographic circumstances of Copts that have placed them in their current position in relation to dance, and how heavy the Coptic identity weighs in determining this. This is accomplished through a collection of video and article sources that explore definitions and limits of Coptic identity, books and videos about dance in Egypt, and interviews with Coptic women to create a bridge. Ultimately, I unveil Coptic connections to dance and inquire into why they are entirely absent from the public sphere.
Photo:
Dunn, Ross. Chapel at St. Mary’s Egyptian Coptic Church, Formerly St Matthias Anglican Church, at Parkdale Avenue and the Queenway.