Asmahan

 

Asmahan danced in the Arab Night Clubs in London from 1977 to 1995. During this time, Beirut was in civil war and the Middle Eastern night club business moved from there to London. The best dancers, singers, and musicians from Egypt and Lebanon were all in London performing for the most prestigious audiences from all over the Middle East.
Some of the famous dancers performing were: Isa Sheriffe, Mona Said, Nahad Sabri, Sho Sho Amin, Shahar Hamdi, Safa Usri, Jamila, Zizi Moustafa, and Soroya G’Algeria.
There were four to twelve dancers in every club, performing every night. There was a dozen clubs which were full every night.
Some of the famous composers playing for the dancers were Farouk Salama, Hani MaHanna, and Hassan Abou Saud.
Every dancer performed a Magency, Taksim, Popular Song, Baladi and Drum Solo.
Baladi was very important, some of the critics commented that Baladi was where a dancer showed her expertise. One government minister stated that this was where the dancer showed her soul.
Baladi is Egypt’s Jazz. It is from the Mohamad Ali District of Cairo. Every musician has his own style and feeling, this is an improvisational art form. The musicians play differently for each dancer. It is the interaction of the dancer with the orchestra that defines every show as a new experience.
Every night is different, no show is ever exactly the same. It is magic in the moment.
Asmahan is dancing Baladi to a CD recording of a live show, the Tunis Radio Orchestra, which was her orchestra at Paradis du Liban in Tunis. www.asmahan.co.uk