Oriental Dance (Egypt)

The high priestress of Oriental dance

Poet Ahmed Rami penned over 200 poems expressing his love and admiration for the late Egyptian diva Oum Khalsoum. Here, Leila Haddad turns one of these works, Zikrayat, meaning "memory", into a hypnotic dance. Her mesmerising production transforms dancers' veils into flames and silvery wings that move in tandem with the performers' serpent-like limbs and torsos. This is a glorious manifestation of artistic expression that clearly illustrates the significance of Oriental dance to the Mediterranean region's cultural heritage.

Oriental Dance (Egypt)

Leila Haddad's passionate signature piece details the historic influences of the ancient dance form she interprets. With the help of seven Egyptian Gypsy musicians, she retraces and rediscovers the origins of Oriental dance along the Nile. The entrancing interaction of dancer and musicians demonstrates the liberating sensuality and intoxicating intensity of this performing art.