Raqs Sharki 1-2-3: Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmy - Time traveling with the stars of Egyptian Dance

Favourites of the Fourties/Fifties:

• Part 1: Badia Masabni
• Part 2: Tahiya Karioka
• Part 3: Samia Gamal
• Part 4: Naima Akef
• Part 5: Katie Fotsaty
• Part 6: Nadia Gamal
• Part 7: Zeinat Olwi
• Part 8: Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmy

 Stars of the Sixties/Seventies:

• Part 9: Nagua Fouad
• Part 10: Soheir Zaki
• Part 11: Fifi Abdo

 Modern Legends:

• Part 12: Nesma
• Part 13: Randa Kamel
• Part 14: Tito Seif

Part 8: Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmy (Founders of the Reda Troupe)
MAHMOUD REDA, born in 1930, is a pioneer of dance theater in Egypt. He is best known for co-founding the Reda Troupe.

He was the eighth of ten children and his father was the head librarian at Cairo University. His older brother Ali was a dancer and through his influence (and that of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire films) Mahmoud became interested in dance.

Mahmoud Reda originally trained as a gymnast, representing Egypt in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He attended Cairo University where he received a degree in Political Economics.

However, his main interest was dance and he joined an Argentinian dance troupe after graduating and toured Europe. While on tour in Paris he resolved to start his own dance troupe back in Egypt, but due to lack of funds he had to work as an accountant for Royal Dutch Shell.

He joined the Heliolido Club in Cairo where he met Anglo-Egyptian baladi dancer Farida Fahmy who became his dancing partner. After the two performed in the Soviet Union in 1957 they decided to start a folk dancing troupe in Egypt with Ali Reda.
(source: Wikipedia)

As a soloist, choreographer and director, Mahmoud Reda made four world tours to 58 countries with his troupe. He performed on the world's most prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall (New York, USA), Royal Albert Hall (London, UK), Congress Hall (Berlin, Germany), Stanislavsky & Gorky Theaters (Moscow, USSR), Olympia (Paris, France) and the United Nations (New York & Geneva). The Reda Troupe has performed for many world leaders and Heads of states.

Mahmoud Reda draws from techniques of jazz, ballet, Hindu dance and folkloric dance from the USSR. His work has shaped and influenced what is known today as Oriental Dance (Raks Sharki). Many former troupe members include master teachers Raqia Hassan, Momo Kadous, Mo Geddawi and Yousry Sharif

(source: IMdB)

Fotos:

About Mahmoud Reda

• About Mahmoud Reda (WikiPedia)
• A history of the Reda Troupe (by Farida Fahmy)
• About dancing Muwashahat (by Farida Fahmy) 

Interviews with Mr. Reda:

• 'There is always hope' (part 1 of interview with Mahmoud Reda by Yasmina Ramzy)
• 'What more can I ask for' (part 2 of interview with Mahmoud Reda by Yasmina Ramzy)
• Interview with Mahmoud Reda (by Morocco)
• Interview with Mahmoud Reda (by Ahram)
• Mahmoud Reda (by Mohamed Shahin)

Videos:
Farida Fahmi and Mahmoud Reda movie sequence:

Farida and Mahmoud:

Muhawashat - to Agaban Lel Gazal:

Reda Troupe - Egyptian folklore (Halawet Samsnenah)

Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy - Workshop in Hungary, 2009:

Enjoy!

See also: Raqs Sharki 1-2-3: Time Traveling with the Stars of Egyptian Dance
This workshop series by Khalida takes you on a journey in time with the great dancers of then and now.

• Raqs sharki 1 – ‘Favorites of the fifties’ – Contains combinations and techniques inspired by the legendary dancers of Egypt like Samia Gamal, Naima Akef, Nadia Gamal and Taheya Carioca.
• Raqs sharki 2 – ‘Stars of the seventies’ – Inspired by famous Egyptian dancers from the 60-80s like Suheir Zaki, Nagua Fouad and Fifi Abdo.
• Raqs sharki 3 – ‘Modern legends’ – Contains informationa about, and techniques and combinations inspired by the famous dancers of this age

 From www.khalidadance.com/workshop-themes

www.khalidadance.com