An Egyptian dancer, or whirling dervish, performs the Tanoura dance in Al-Moez Street in Old Cairo. With Sufi origins – dervishes are a form of active meditation, which Sufi thought represents as a state of harmony with the circular movements of the universe – the dance developed into its Egyptian form through the use of coloured skirts.
Photographer Asmaa Waguih captured this shot during the fasting month of Ramadan. She became interested in photojournalism while working as a reporter in Iraq in 2006, and on her return to Cairo focused on developing her photography skills, which she found allowed her more creativity. She has covered events across the region including an eight-year stint with Reuters.
