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Dancers (Video Footage)

Leila ~ You’re the best!

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 | Dancers (Video Footage) | No Comments

Leila is one of my favorite post modern Egyptian style dancers, and you have to admit that she’s drop-dead gorgeous. Besides this, you have to respect her tenacity. Originally from the Northwest, north of Seattle, she quickly became one of Seattle’s most loved and regularly booked dancers. Determined to make a name for herself, she moved out to Cairo in 1999, studied with the best Egyptian instructors, learned Arabic, and quickly moved on to dancing at the top 5-star hotels with her own band, becoming one of Cairo’s most sought after belly dancers, as well as a well known Egyptian actress and model.

Leila and I have similar body types, which is another attraction for me. I find that there are some definite benefits of learning from people who are of the same/similar body type as you (that is once you get to a certain level). Long arms take longer to move through space, and I have a lot of real estate to move around! I have found that petite dancers sometimes have a hard time relating to this. Moves that look good on a petite person aren’t going to look the same on me. Also, as we wear the same size, when she’s visiting Seattle, I can always count on picking up one of her hand-me-down costumes! : )

Leila’s dancing is elegant yet commanding, beautifully Egyptian, and mesmerizing to watch. See for yourself. Video Footage of Leila below:

Nile Group Festival Opening
Saidi at Nile Group Festival
Nile Group Festival
Nile Group Festival; Tabla solo & finale
Bint al Belad A sample of her first video
Leila w/ Singer
Cairo Belly Dancing
Raks al Assaya This clip was probably filmed
around 1999-2000.
Leila as Actress

Leila often visits Seattle. Be sure to catch her workshops when she does! You won’t be disappointed.

For more info about the author, visit www.mellilah.com

Tags: belly dancer, leila, leila of cairo

Mellilah’s Favorite Dancers – Video Clips

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 | Dancers (Video Footage) | 1 Comment

Here are some of my favorite dancers. The clips are placed in some historical order; so it’s also an historical reference, showing how Egyptian dance evolved and changed as it progressed through the 30s, 40s and 50s (Classical), into the 60s-80s (Modern) and the most current Egyptian style (Post Modern). Note there are also clips of American and other foreigners which do not all depict the Egyptian style as it is and has been represented in Cairo, specifically. Putting dancers into categories is somewhat subjective, and the semantics of doing so should be considered. Please note that I do my best to apply what I have learned from master instructors when categorizing dancers and do so for the purpose of studying and learning from these examples. There aren’t many black and white rules when defining the styles of Egyptian belly dance, and I like to think of the similarities as “commonalities” or “tendencies” when referring to syles.

Be sure to click the “back” button on your menu above to return to my blog! : )

LEGENDS (Classical & Modern Egyptian style):

Tahia CariocaConsidered the 1st Star of Raks Sharki in 40s; Classical style

Tahia Carioca

Samia GamalConsidered the 2nd Star of Raks Sharki in 40s; Classical style

Samia Gamal

Naima Akef Star of 50s

Naima Akef

Suheir Zaki Star of 60s & 70s

Suheir Zaki

Nagwa Fouad Star of 70s

Nagwa Fouad