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

 Favourites of the Fourties/Fifties - 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:

• About Samia Gamal (by worldbellydance.com)
• Spotlight on Samia Gamal (Sequins and Shimmies)
• Samia Gamal (by belly-dance.org)
• Samia Gamal (by serpentine.org)
  

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.. then my BOOST Membership is for you! Tap www.khalidadance.com/vip for all details and the Enrollment form - The theme of 2024's live BOOST classes is 'Time Traveling with the Stars' - plus you'll get access to my bonus DVDs and online courses.

I look forward to welcoming you as a BOOSTie member :)

xx K.

Favourites of the Fourties/Fifties:

• Badia Masabni
• Tahiya Karioka
• Samia Gamal
• Naima Akef
• Katie Fotsaty
• Nadia Gamal
• Zeinat Olwi
• Hind Rostom
• Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmy

 Stars of the Sixties/Seventies:

• Nagua Fouad
• Soheir Zaki
• Fifi Abdo

 Modern Legends:

• Nesma
• Randa Kamel
• Tito Seif