Legendary Egyptian Dancer And founder of the Reda Troupe coming to His only stop in the Western USA Hala Dance Company & Sequoia Adult School are
proud to present the legendary Mahmoud Reda of Cairo, Egypt in a two
days seminar and All-Star Show in Redwood City, CA on July 27th
& 28th 2002
Location: Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Ave, Redwood City, CA 94062 Schedule: 9:00 - 9:30 am Registration & Shopping 9:30 - Noon Class with Mahmoud
Reda Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch break 1:00 - 3:00 PM Class with Mahmoud
Reda Party and
Show on Sat July 27th 2002 in Redwood City Admission: Workshop: $70/day in advance, $80/day
at the door (if space available). Sat evening show: $15 in advance, $20 at the
door. Advance
registration has to be received by July 24th 2002 No refunds.
Non-transferable. No video cameras. To register, please fill out the form below, mail
it with your check (payable to Hala Dance) to: 1478 Calabazas Blvd,
Santa Clara, CA 95051. Tel:
408-246-1129 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Name: ____________________________ Dance Name
(if different): ____________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone number: ______________________ Email:
_______________________________ Saturday Workshop (number of people): ____ Amount: ______ Saturday Evening show (number of people):
____ Amount: ______ Sunday Workshop (number of people): _____ Amount: ______ Total amount
enclosed: ______ How did you hear about this event? ______________________________________________ Special requirements or comments: ______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Mahmoud Reda has developed a special method of
teaching Egyptian Folk and Oriental dance (Raks Sharki) for the purpose
of training the first theatrical folk dance troupe in Egypt which he
formed in 1959, "The Reda Troupe". His technique is based
on the original folk dance movements that he researched, analyzed and
studied from different regions of Egypt.
These basics were developed, modified and enriched to suit theatrical
production. 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 (NY, USA), Albert Hall (London, UK), Congress Hall
(Berlin, Germany), Stanislavsky & Gorky Theaters (Moscow, USSR),
Olympia (Paris, France) and the United Nations (NY & Geneva). The
Reda Troupe has performed for many world leaders and Heads of states.
Mr. Reda received Egypt's Order of Arts and Science in 1967, The Star
of Jordan in 1965 and the Order of Tunisia in 1973. In addition to hundreds
of troupe productions, Mr. Reda has choreographed for Egyptian TV specials,
plays and operettas and authored "In the Temple of Dance". He was also principal actor, dancer and choreographer
for three popular Egyptian films with Farida Fahmy, co-founder &
star soloist of the Reda Troupe and a UCLA MA graduate. Mahmoud's work has
shaped and influenced what is known today as Oriental Dance (Raks Sharki).
Many of his troupe members became master teachers themselves teaching
in Egypt, Europe and USA e.g. Rakia Hassan, Momo Kadous, Mo Geddawi
and Yosry Sherif. Mr. Reda served as the Artistic Advisor to the ministry
of Culture in Egypt. He continues to teach through tours where he instructs
in the famous "Reda" technique. Some of the topics
of his instruction will be: Mastering the basic steps and movements,
using these movements in different combinations and routines, introduction
to basic choreography as well as body and mind exercises for the healthy
dancer. For a little background on this unusual opportunity,
see video clips here: http://www.egyptiancastle.com/cafe/reda/reda01.htm
From a review in the Hindustan Times (New Delhi,
India, April 2001): [The troupe] was founded
in 1959 by the Reda brothers-- Ali and Mahmoud--to popularize dance
forms from the diverse regions of Egypt.
After a gap of 37 years, the troupe again showcases dances of
the countryside, the coasts, upper Egypt and the Bedouins. [They] have
some dazzling dances like the El Haggala, performed by the Bedouins
in the desert sands on a moonlit night. The dancers are university graduates
who have performed all over the globe. From an article in the Cairo Times (Cairo, Egypt,
February 2002): The original rush of
enthusiasm for Mahmoud Reda's innovative work with folkloric music and
dance in the 1960s, and its endorsement by the government, has seen
the growth of hundreds of troupes around the country [Egypt] over the
past decades, as well as regular television coverage. Perhaps one of the
problems of folkloric dance as modern entertainment lies in its intrinsic
nature: the role of folklore is to preserve tradition and therefore
it cannot easily be developed and kept fresh with new ideas. And although
the dances presented in this theatrical setting are by Reda's own definition
"not authentic folk art (which by its nature belongs only to social
gatherings such as weddings and other celebrations) but an artistic
rendering of those traditions," the troupe continue to use the
same repertoire handed down to them by Reda during his 40 years of work.
Right here in our own backyard… |