'No dancing': Saudi concert edict stirs ridicule

RIYADH - AFP

Tamer Hosny

A "No dancing or swaying" instruction on tickets to Egyptian pop sensation Tamer Hosny's upcoming concert in Saudi Arabia has triggered an avalanche of mockery and ridicule on social media.

Thousands of fans were taken by surprise when tickets for Hosny's first-ever Saudi concert in the western city of Jeddah on March 30 came with the edict that dancing was "strictly prohibited".

"Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts," one Twitter user said. "The corridors and seats will be equipped with sway detectors. Anyone who thinks about swaying will be kicked out."

Another tweeted: "No dancing or swaying in a concert! It's like putting ice under the sun and asking it not to melt."     

The kingdom's entertainment authority did not respond to AFP's request for comment about the instruction.

With its new modernization drive, the ultra-conservative kingdom has hosted a series of concerts in recent months by artists such as Lebanon's Hiba Tawaji and legendary Greek composer Yanni.

Men and women are often seen breaking into dance at such events, in scenes that were unimaginable not long ago.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is leading the reform drive, is seeking to balance unpopular subsidy cuts in an era of low oil prices with more entertainment options despite opposition from Muslim religious hardliners.

The reform stems partly from an economic motive to boost domestic spending on entertainment as the kingdom reels from a protracted slump in oil prices.

Saudis currently splurge billions of dollars annually to see movie shows and visit amusement parks in neighboring tourist hubs like Dubai.