Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Raqs Sharki 1-2-3: Samia Gamal - Time traveling with the stars of Egyptian Dance

 Favourites of the Fourties/Fifties:

 Stars of the Sixties/Seventies:
 Modern Legends:
Part 3: Samia Gamal (5 March 1924 – 1 December 1994)

SAMIA GAMAL was born in 1924 as Zaynab Ibrahim Mahfuz in the small Egyptian town of Wana. Her family moved just months later to Cairo and settled near the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.

It was many years later that Samia Gamal met Badia Masabni, the founder of modern Oriental dance. Badia offered Samia an invitation to join her dance company, which Samia accepted. Badia Masabni gave her the stage name Samia Gamal, and she began her dance career.

At first, she studied under Badia and Badia's star dancer at the time, Tahiya Karioka. However she soon became a respected soloist and brought forth her own style.

Samia Gamal incorporated techniques from ballet and Latin dance into her solo performances. She was also the first to perform with high-heeled shoes on stage. She starred in dozens of Egyptian films next to the famous Farid Al Attrach.

Together they could be thought of as the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the Middle East.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Samia Gamal 


Samia and Farid
Samia and Taheiya

About Samia Gamal:

Interview with Samia Gamal (translation from Shira.net)
Samia Gamal Movies (youtube playlist)  
Documentary on Samia Gamal (youtube video)

Videos

Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, 1944

Farid and Samia in Afrita Hanem, 1949


Bint Al Nil, 1952

Don't tell anyone, 1952

Valley of the Kings, 1954
 
'Zanouba', 1956 (I danced a tribute to this Samia clip at Delanna's 360 degree festival here)



Samia dancing to 'Zeina' (also from Zanouba, 1956)


Samia in 'The Second Man' (Al Rajul el Thani, 1959


Enjoy!

PS: If you want to dance and move with me online, and get inspired by the Legends of Dance who have inspired me throughout the years.. then become a BOOSTie Member! Get all details and the Enrollment page at www.khalidadance.com/vip 

Special price for all enrollments before end of February 2024 - all levels and styles are welcome!

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