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This hafla's flyer features the dancer: Samia Gamal

Zainab Khalil Ibrahim Mahfouz, better known as Samia Gamal, was born on 5 March 1924 in Beni Suef. She became a household name after enduring a difficult childhood. Gamal’s mother passed away when she was young, and she ended up living with her father, and his wife, who made her taste all the colors of suffering.

In an attempt to escape, she took on diverse professions to support herself and become independent, working as a tailor, a factory worker, and a nurse.

Her love for dance grew after watching the film, ‘The Queen of Stages’ (1936), featuring Badia Masabani, the oriental dancer. She joined Masabani’s dancing troupe where she was trained by Masabni herself, who also helped her choose her stage name, Samia.

With her beauty, charming personality, and skills, Gamal stood out to the audience, establishing herself as a dancer. Her unique blend of traditional techniques with modern elements set her apart from other dancers of her generation and earned her widespread acclaim.

Her fans and audience felt a great connection to her and her performances, to the point where she created a distinguishable ripple effect in the world of oriental dance, choreographing new dance moves that transformed the art form, inspiring countless dancers around the globe in the mid-20th century.

One of Gamal’s most significant contributions to oriental dance was her emphasis on expressiveness and storytelling through movement. She had a remarkable ability to convey emotions and narratives through her performances, captivating audiences with every gesture and step.

Through a series of successful projects in dancing, she ventured into the film field in the 1940s. She appeared in various films, alongside major cinema stars such as Ismail Yassine, Farid al-Atrash, Abdel Salam Al Nabulsy, Abdel Moneim Ibrahim, Zeinat Sedki, Omar Sharif, and many more.

Gamal appeared in over 50 Egyptian movies, but her contributions extended beyond that. She put oriental dancing at the forefront of popular culture and showcased its beauty to a global audience by starring in foreign movies. That includes the French film, ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,’ in 1954, starring French actors Fernandel, and Henri Vilbert, and the German actor Dieter Borsche. She also appeared in the American film, ‘Valley of the Kings,’ starring Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker, and Victor Jory in 1954.

With her elegance, grace, and innovative technique of mixing elements of Eastern and Western dance, she rose to prominence in Egypt, the USA, and France.

Gamal appeared on the cover of the French magazine, Noir et Blanc, on 11 October 1950, with the cover stating, “Samia Gamal, the most beautiful oriental dancer, enjoys her journey in France.” She was also on the cover of ‘Point de Vue,’ the French magazine, on 12 August 1950.

Decades after her passing, Samia Gamal’s legacy continues to inspire dancers and enthusiasts of Oriental dance all over the world. Her contributions to the art form are celebrated and remembered annually on her birthday.
Article by Egyptian Streets, March 5, 2024, by Muhammed Kotb.

For more information about Samia Gamal, click HERE.