Here's a fun puzzle: Try to think of anything that would be hotter than Egypt in late June or early July, dressed in dark clothing, complete with a head scarf. Tough, isn't it?

And as redundant as it sounds, Cairo was in the midst of a heat wave at the time Lori Weed and Leigh Bauer visited as part of a tour led by Middle Eastern dancer, Morocco. Consolation was found, they said, in the fact that even the locals were sweating.

Morocco, or "Auntie Rocky" as she is known by many of her students, has been traveling to Egypt for more than 40 years as part of her extensive dance research. She has been bringing students with her for almost as long, sharing her knowledge and providing an opportunity to learn from master dancers.

The tour included the sightseeing you might expect on a trip to Egypt: the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings and the Noble Tombs, to name a few. Weed and Bauer also got to be "cruisers," taking a four-day trip down the Nile to Luxor.

Attending the dance festival was the main focus of the trip, however. Everything from traditional folk dances to modern renditions of Middle Eastern dance, including one teacher who incorporated moves inspired by Shakira and Beyonce' into her choreography, could be seen at the festival. Five days of classes were offered, and there were plenty of vendors selling costume items.

The festival opened and closed with galas that included several big-name dancers accompanied by 10- to 25-piece bands, each of which performed for about an hour and included costume changes.

Seeing the extensive live bands was thrilling, Weed said, but the modern Cairo style of dance took a little getting used to. She also mentioned that the costumes were wonderful, though she thought they looked perhaps a bit, um, chilly for our climate.

Workshop participants were given the chance to perform, though there was a $50 fee for doing so. The Juneau dancers opted not to pay to perform, but enjoyed seeing some of the other attendees on stage. Dancers and musicians from all over the world gathered at the festival, so it was a real opportunity for Juneau dancers to learn about Egyptian culture and a variety of Middle Eastern dances.

Look for classes offered by Weed in the fall. Those lucky enough to take one might learn something (and maybe be able to buy a little something) brought back from her experience in Egypt.