A page dedicated to the dancers that inspire me the most
by Zafirah

Photo: Belly Dance Museum

Soheir Zaki Soheir Zaki was a star of the 70s and 80s who has now retired. I remember the first time I saw her on video, it was one of her last performances, in London. I was hooked. One costume for the whole set, no fuss, she just danced. Those fantastic percussive hips coupled with simple yet perfect musical interpretation and that serene smile. Also she was a real lady - she made the dance respectable.

Dina I don't think a bigger contrast from Soheir Zaki is possible! No-ones divides the dance world like Dina. She is currently (and has been for some time) queen bee in cairo. You either love her or hate her - I am definitely in the former camp. She has formed her own style, both dance wise and costume wise. This is her in one of her more tasteful costumes! We shouldn't let her infamy and behaviour detract from the fact she is a dance legend. She truely makes the music into motion and puts everything she has into her dance. Her performances mesmorize me.

Photo: RAM the photo artist

Photo: C.Anderson

Randa Kamal Randa is one of the newer dancers in cairo, but I have yet to meet a single person that has seen her that doesn't love her. She has everything - her style is strong, dramatic and innovative, yet graceful, and no one does the old weepies (classical songs) like Randa. Update: Since wirting this back in 2004, Randa has reaaly began to get the worldwide recognition she deserves. She is perfection - you could take a photo of her at any time and from any angle and her posture and the lines of her body (ie leg/arm placement etc) would be absolutely perfect.

Khaled Mahmoud I remember in my first dance classes (in the backwaters of east anglia!) I was always the strange one that wanted to learn all this new fangalled small subtle muscley stuff that legend told of. Then I took my first workshop with Khaled at Fantasia. It was an epiphany (well, that might be a bit strong!) that's what I want to be like when I 'grow up'! His fantasic small controlled intricate movements were my lasting impression, but since then I've been to many more classes with him and he's just great all round! Lucky for us, although he is egyptian he now resides in the UK

Photo: Zafirah

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