In 2001 I had the great honor and fulfillment of being part of the International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance. We brought Mme. Farida Fahmy and Mr. Mahmoud Reda for teaching and participating by lecture. Here I introduce Mahmoud Reda.
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Mar
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Feb
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23
Jul
Egypt Diary: First Night in Luxor (June 2014)
The Nile Valley was celebrating on the eve of the inauguration of their new president Sisi. I saw Cairo celebrations June 3 and then on June 7 I saw the celebrations in Luxor. We were staying on the west bank of Luxor at Gezira Gardens Hotel, heard the mizmar and walked over. It was a […]
17
Jul
Egypt Diary: Arrival in Egypt (June 2014)
I write this blog in Cairo; I have been in Egypt 16 days now. Yesterday was the first day that I stayed in and rested, organized my Luxor and Cairo videos and photos, and backed up most of them in an external hard drive (yes, I have finally learned that lesson). It seemed for 14 […]
16
May
Who is Nelly Mazloum?
Who is Nelly Mazloum? Nelly Mazloum was a film star in the Classic Black & White Cinema Era in the 1940’s-60’s, starting as a child prodigy in her first film was when she was 10 years old. Ms. Mazloum has a strong position in the Cairo film and theater dance history. I was not only […]
08
May
An Introduction to Tarab
An Introduction to Tarab This last weekend Najia (of Media, PA) and I dedicated a 20 hour workshop intensive to “Finding Tarab in Post-Modern Orientale Dance.”¹ We first had to introduce the concept of Tarab and try to relate it to our own sensory experience. Since Tarab is an event experience that is culturally specific […]
28
Apr
Metkal Kanowi and Hallah al Safi – Sa’idi singer and dancer – Part II
Metkal Kanowi and Hallah al Safi – Sa’idi singer and dancer – Part II Originally this week’s blog was going to be solely about this unique video, then I almost changed my mind to write up all the amazing information about Metkal and Hala that so many of you are sharing with me! As there […]
22
Apr
Metkal Kanowi and Hallah al Safi – Sa’idi singer and dancer – Part I
Metkal Kanowi and Hallah al Safi – Sa’idi singer and dancer – Part I I remember when I was learning Middle Eastern Dance in California in the early 1980’s “Egyptian Folklore” basically meant Sa’idi and the only Sa’idi musical artist we knew by name was Metkal Kenawi. We learned “Farowla” “Binti Beida” and “Tfarrak al […]
14
Apr
Al’ab al-Atfal – a cute girls’ dance
Al’ab al-Atfal – a cute girls’ dance In the midst of so many serious blogs and videos of Sa’idi Tahtib and Assaya, today I will post a light-hearted video and story, and short, only . The inspiration was a children’s dance and game that Mahmoud Reda and his researchers observed during his 1965 research trip […]
07
Apr
Sa’idi Tahtib and Mahmoud Reda
Sa’idi Tahtib and Mahmoud Reda Sa’idi Tahtib and Sa’idi raqs assaya were two of Mahmoud Reda’s favorite folkloric “dances” to be brought to the stage. Many times he has told me that both were styles that were already interesting, he was easily inspired by them, and did not have to change anything to make it appropriate […]