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.About the Hoochy Coochy Melody

There's a place in France

where the ladies do a dance . .

The graphic above illustrates the hoochy coochy melody popularly associated with "Little Egypt." This snippet of melody has been quoted in countless cartoon soundtracks and songs such as "Cleopatra, Queen of Denial."

Listen to the hoochy coochy melody on the Oasis Web page

Answers to "Little Egypt" Quiz

1. a

Little Egypt was a notorious entertainer of the late nineteenth century. Her successful run in a Broadway music hall immediately attracted numerous imitators.

2. c

She became a front-page news item in December 1896 after she danced at a Fifth Avenue bachelor party that was raided by the vice squad.

3. b

She remained hidden in another part of the establishment, sipping champagne.

4. d

She was hired by Broadway impresario Oscar Hammerstein I to appear as herself in a humorous parody of the Seeley dinner.

5. c

It appears that she formed a touring burlesque company.

YOUR SCORE, FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY:

0-1 -- Desperately need to read Looking for Little Egypt
2-3 -- Making some progress
3-4 -- True devotee of Middle Eastern dance history
5 or more -- Possibly qualified to write the screenplay

"(Olympia Theatre, NYC) The piece de resistance was Silly's Dinner, the burlesque in which Little Egypt and Cora Routt distinguish themselves. The drawing power of this travesty on a recent occurrence in New York is simply marvelous. Never since Olympia was opened have such vast crowds thronged the place, and as a result Manager Hammerstein wears a smile which is large and expressive." --The New York Dramatic Mirror, January 1896

The Little Egypt Home Page is presented by IDD Books, publishers of Looking for Little Egypt. ISBN 0-9623998-1-7, cover price $14.95. Available at leading dance bazaars, through special order at most bookstores in U.S., through Amazon.com on the Internet, or directly from the publishers. The book explains Little Egypt's notoriety and traces the history and development of raks Sharki (belly dance) in the United States, beginning with the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.

Click here to order LOOKING FOR LITTLE EGYPT from Amazon.com Back to Little Egypt Home Page