Asmahan

[Vasha_Hatal]

I have been watching videos of her for a while now. I think she is amazing. Has anyone else heard of her or seen her before?

I just found out that im going to get to train with her while im in Egypt this December, I am soooo excited!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qWunZ1KKkVY

[jahbie]

I'm going to beat you to it, she is coming to the J.O.Y. festival here in October. I'm going to her stagecraft workshop. I've seen her on one of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan videos and I was pretty impressed, so I'm so glad to have this opportunity to see her.

[lizajuk]

I'm going to beat you to it, she is coming to the J.O.Y. festival here in October. I'm going to her stagecraft workshop. I've seen her on one of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan videos and I was pretty impressed, so I'm so glad to have this opportunity to see her.

Impressed I'll say!!!!.
Me too I'm at JOY in her beledi workshop. To UK Bhuzzers at the very least..be there...or be all kinds of square!..g.:

[lizajuk]

Just read some of the comments on YouTube. Dear me. They want to see those Ahlan Wa Sahlan films. The woman is a true performer and who's afraid of a bit of glamour then?
Or rather afraid of a dancer who has it in great BIG dollops! Long live the bellydancer who looks like a bellydancer!

[heinakuu]

note also that she very recently joined Nile Group which means there is still
one more reason to go to one of the Nile Group events...personally i am not so fond of her style, sorry, can't explain why, it just does not work for me.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

I like Ashmahan. I know that she is from Argentina. She has been in Egypt for at least 15 years. She has her own web site, but the last time I checked it was down. She actually retired back in in the early 00's, but came out of retirement to perform at the Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2003 closing ceremony and is now dancing. She dances at the Mena House in Giza. When I was in Egypt, she was also dancing at the Nile Maxim, but don't know if she is still there. She makes her own costumes and is probably in her mid to late 40's. That's all I know about her. But have fun studying with her. I'd love to study with her, too.

[Bellydancingcaroline]

Oh I love Asmahan. Someone else on old bhuz mentioned that "You *know* you're going to see a real show" when you go to see her. She's really into the theatricality of the whole thing. See you girls at JOY !

[Vasha_Hatal]

I cant go to JOY this year ;_;. Maybe next time!! Have fun everyone!!!

Also... she makes her own costumes??? Thats amazing. They are all beautiful!

[Bellydancingcaroline]

note also that she very recently joined Nile Group which means there is still
one more reason to go to one of the Nile Group events...personally i am not so fond of her style, sorry, can't explain why, it just does not work for me.

nile group events are brilliant. Even the ride to/from the airport taken care of in a totally non-stressful way, and not like the death taxi ride I had returning in 2005.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Yes, she designs and makes her own costumes and she does have some really beautiful ones. My favorite one of hers is a white meleya leff dress that has "eye of horus" motif all over it!

I cant go to JOY this year ;_;. Maybe next time!! Have fun everyone!!!

Also... she makes her own costumes??? Thats amazing. They are all beautiful!

[MariaAya]

tarammmmmmmm
I'm having in one week from now workshop with her.
I'll tell you how it will go.
Till now i've seen her 2 months ago at NileMaxim Boat live and she was WOW !!!
You got to see her live, she is a show bomb

Maria Aya..g.:

[Monica]

Aaah, she is the one who wore the animal print costume and had her male back-up dancers (also in animal print) perform and then bring her out in a cage that she 'escaped' from before she danced. Wow. It took me years to find out who she was from describing the video clip to various people.

It is pretty wild and super 80s and chock full of kitsch. Based on that one admittedly old show I would not classify her style as 'glamorous' at all. But I would love to see her live and see what she is up to now!

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Yes, she also uses Isis wings in her dancing. She also had an act, not sure if she still does this, in which she came out of a big lotus. She also has another entrance piece in which she has multiple veils wrapped around her and each of her male back up dancers takes a veil and basically "unravels" her. Its very interesting and entertaining. And now Katia the Russian dancer has an an entrance piece in which she comes out on a liter in a Pharaonic style and then takes off her "Phraonic" gown to reveal a belly dance costume. Her male back up dancers come onto stage as liter bearers dressed like ancient Egyptians. Its really kitchy and obviously she is appealing to tourists and foreigners but its entertaining to watch and I wouldn't be surprised if she got her sense of theatrics from Asmahan!

Aaah, she is the one who wore the animal print costume and had her male back-up dancers (also in animal print) perform and then bring her out in a cage that she 'escaped' from before she danced. Wow. It took me years to find out who she was from describing the video clip to various people.

It is pretty wild and super 80s and chock full of kitsch. Based on that one admittedly old show I would not classify her style as 'glamorous' at all. But I would love to see her live and see what she is up to now!

[sumayasaahir]

Love her stage presence!

[jahbie]

Ooooh! The stagecraft workshop might be rather interesting then!!

[ChristinaRizkallah]

She does have a lot of stage presence for sure!

Love her stage presence!

[badriya_al_ahmar]

She also had an act, not sure if she still does this, in which she came out of a big lotus.

I have a clip of that, it's great (by which I mean to say, like her tiger dress, not particularly tasteful but tremendously enjoyable )

[Belle_Elen]

I sow Asmahan performance at Nile Maxime in Cairo this April. Great dancer! Very energetic. Would love to take a workshop with her.

[Belle_Elen]

Just to add... I watched a few videos of Asmahan on youtube after... It's impossible to compare to her live perfomance.

[Lauren_]

Just spotted this beautiful Asmahan clip on youtube, my favorite so far.

And that SKIRT -- yummmmmeeeeeeee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tc8rjL8f_s

[MariaAya]

Just 2 weeks ago saw her live at the opening gala at NileGroup Festival and she was WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
After had a fantastic workshop with her about stage presence and entrance on scene and was very enlightening and more of all she touched me with the way she spoke to us before the actual dance part.
Very inspiring, she lead us to find the unique thing inside us and give this to the audience, if we are strong, if we are sensitive, sensual, dramatic etc.
After we saw her (the NileMaxim was booked for NileGroup Festival) with Randa Kamel, and again she was fantastic, and yessssss she came as a Cleopatra and her boys carrying her on a golden chair !!
Fantastic show, and its not comparable the video with her live presence.

Maria Aya..g.:

[ChristinaRizkallah]

That's a great clip, yes, that skirt is beautiful. I love the cut out in the left hip and the way it flows as she dances!

Just spotted this beautiful Asmahan clip on youtube, my favorite so far.

And that SKIRT -- yummmmmeeeeeeee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tc8rjL8f_s

[bellydancecostumes]

Last saturday ı had chance to see her at Nile cruise in egypt. She was really good. I took some photos. In her costume she looks like Cleopatra ,r:;

[danidance]

As I was watching, I thought - hey she and Aziza have some similarities then I read the you tube posts & they thought the same thing. I like that costume a bunch!

Just spotted this beautiful Asmahan clip on youtube, my favorite so far.

And that SKIRT -- yummmmmeeeeeeee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tc8rjL8f_s

[jessedan]

I had a chance to talk at length this morning with one of my friends who just got back from Cairo, and one of the first things she mentioned to me was seeing Asmahan and Randa Kamel dance at the Nile Cruise. She also had a chance to spend a few moments chatting with Asmahan and tells me that she is not only a fabulous dancer but she has a wonderfully warm and friendly personality as well. An all around pleasant person.

Regards
Priscilla

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Her Cleopatra costume is totally gorgeous!

Last saturday ı had chance to see her at Nile cruise in egypt. She was really good. I took some photos. In her costume she looks like Cleopatra ,r:;

[nuringa]

yes it's just fantastic

i'll repost photoes by Warda

[jessedan]

Wow, that last pic is just gorgeous! Anyone know who designed and actually MADE this?

Regards
Priscilla

[lizajuk]

Weeeeeeeeeeeee
I can't wait for Oct and JOY ...
Cleo in Yorkshire...ecky thump,lad!..g.:

[NandaDncer]

Ooo, I saw her twice in '05. What a show. And those gravity defying costumes...

Please give us a review of her teaching :-)