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Yasmina, sometimes known as 'The English Rose of Cairo', has over
twenty-five years of experience in the field of Egyptian oriental dance as a
performer, teacher and choreographer. Originally from the UK she spent many
years travelling and dancing her way around the Middle East before settling in
Cairo in 1995. Here she performed for many years with her orchestra, becoming
one of the city's best-loved dancers. Cairo is still Yasmina's home, where she
hosts dancers and dance groups from around the world and provides services
ranging from accommodation, choreography, training and coaching in oriental
dance, to publicity photography and music production.
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CD / DVD / Video |
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Yasmina offers technique and choreography in the DVD series featuring
Cairo's top dancers: 'Masters of Egyptian Choreography' directed and produced
by Natasha Senkovich (best known for her documentary 'Belly dancers of Cairo')
The DVD contains a full choreography, step by step technique, performance in
costume and a personal interview. To order one DVD or as many as you like from
Natasha, go to www.natashabellydancevideos.com |
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Yasmina’s music CD’s and performance
videos (also available on DVD) each represent a collaborative effort between
herself and her ensemble (orchestra, singers and in some cases folkloric
dancers), to express the ‘Cairo dance experience’. The videos are
unique in conveying the true atmosphere of a live show in Cairo, with most
sections recorded at weddings or in the nightclub. The CD’s feature music
and songs specially chosen for dance lovers to either listen or perform to,
and, for performers, they include all the elements you need to put together a
complete show.
CD's
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'Hayati'
'Hayati' means 'my life', and I have chosen the title of this CD deliberately because many of the tracks reflect particular moments and memories experienced during my years in Egypt. With five different singers (four of them from the family of Safaa Farid) performing a wide range of different styles, once again this CD contains something for everyone. The opening entrance music, specially composed by Nader Zakaria, is repeated at the end of the collection in a shorter version for those with limited stage time available to perform in. There are several classic songs ranging from old favourites such as Farid el Attrache's 'Zeyna', and Naghat's 'Ama Barowa', to nineties favourite 'W'hayti Andak'. A medley of 'Ana Fintizarak, Menharemsh and Tamrahenna' performed by Ahmed el Khatib in tacht style on the oud, contrasts with shaabi songs such as 'Maoula Di', originally sung by one of my favourite performers from the past, Shafiqa. As well as all this there is an updated version of Ahmed Adaweya's 'Yachti Smalatayn', with modern shaabi inserts, a complete tableau for shamadan, awaalim style, an irresistible baladi and a great drum solo! |
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'Nawader'
The translation of ‘Nawader’ in English is ‘rare, or
precious, things’. In this collection I have put together something for
everyone, including two ‘tableaux’ especially composed or arranged
to be performed by groups on stage, and reflecting different moods or styles.
One of these is Sherra el Fan, a baladi style piece based on the idea
of a street populated by musicians and dancers (much like Mohamed Ali
Street in days gone by), with the dancers being invited to come and interpret
the different instruments. The other is the ‘Alexandrian Beach
Tableau’, a cocktail of songs about love and summer fun in the sun, sea
and sand, culminating in the joyful ‘Doq el Shamassi’, originally
made famous by the Reda Troupe.
The album also contains five beautiful classic songs, a brand new opening
majensee, an instrumental piece originally danced by Samia Gamal, a live baladi
track and two drum solos.
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'Baladi
w'Bas' For all lovers of Egyptian baladi music, here is the ultimate
collection, with high quality live improvisations from some of Cairo's top
musicians. Also includes plus mawals and popular baladi songs from Hoda
Sombati.
Destined to become a favourite in your collection!
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'El Warda'
('The Rose')
'El Warda' ('The Rose') is so titled after Yasmina's press name: 'The English
Rose of Cairo', and represents a team effort by herself, the unique talents of
Nader Zakaria and Mounir Abdel Aziz of Merryland Studios Heliopolis, and
singers Safaa Farid and Ahmed Alaa, among others. Yasmina says: 'After the
success of 'Aheb Masr' producing something even better was always going to be
difficult - but I am satisfied that we have risen to the challenge! I am really
excited about this CD, which has a developed and sophisticated sound, depth of
feeling and mix of music to satisfy even the most demanding dancer.' 'El Warda'
contains newly-composed opening music, a baladi tableau of old songs with a
gorgeous nostalgic feel, a high-energy Saeedi tableau and modern catchy shaabi
song (both original compositions), three classical Egyptian songs with
beautiful vocals, a unique drum solo with instrumentation, and a specially
composed piece of modern reggaeton fusion. Definitely something for everyone.
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'Aheb Masr!'
('I Love Egypt!)
An irresistible mix of music and songs with high quality production values and
three original compositions. Opening music, unique tribute to Samia Gamal, both
composed by Reda Saad, and pop baladi with a twist, by Mounir Abdel-Aziz. Also
favourite classics 'Ala Hizboadad' and 'Ala Rimsh Eyounha.', complete Nubian
cocktail with an African drum solo, and a funky shaabi number, 'Agibni Kulak.'
This is the most ambitious of Yasmina's CD's so far, and features the vocal
talents of five singers, each adding a different, very Egyptian flavour. Sleeve
notes contain all the song lyrics translated to English. |
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Heya di
Yasmina
A popular high quality studio recording, Heya di Yasmina (This is Yasmina)
features original opening music by composer Reda Saad, and the talents of one
of Cairos top percussionists, Negm. It contains a mix of classical, Saeedi and
baladi songs, a unique tabla solo, and instrumental as well as vocal pieces.
All the song lyrics have been translated into English. |
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Layali
Yasmina
Recorded in the studio but mostly with Yasminas complete live band, this CD
retains an immediate feel and includes opening music, both classical and
lighter songs, and a baladi tableau made famous by legendary Egyptian dancer
Naima Akef. Also a traditional baladi and drum solo of appropriate length for a
live performance. Layali Yasmina is on re-release after selling out completely:
the new version contains an extra bonus track featuring a medley of popular
Ahmed Adaweya shaabi songs. |
DVD's / Video
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'Journey of
Desire: A Foreign Dancer in Cairo'
Full-length documentary feature, running 1 hour 40 minutes, directed by Sara
Farouk, and produced by Yasmina. A mixture of interviews, personal and archive
footage, documentary footage, the film also includes six performance
'video-clips' shot on location, illustrating different aspects of Egyptian
dance and music, as well as Yasmina's own personal story of how she came to
Cairo and survived eight years of performing there. It includes contributions
from numerous names in the world of oriental dance, including Dina, Raqia
Hassan, Beatta and Horacio Cifuentes, Morocco, Dr. Mo Gedowi, dancers Asmahan,
Katia, Nour, Diana Tarkhan, and many others. (See news and events section for
review and more information.) |
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Video Clip |
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Yasmina Live
in Cairo Vol 1
Recorded live at the Cairo Meridien Heliopolis (both in the nightclub and the
ballroom), this performance video contains solo performances of the opening
music and some songs available on the CD Layali Yasmina. It also features seven
costume changes, two tableaux and a drum solo. It runs at just over 60 minutes.
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Video Clip |
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Yasmina Live
in Cairo Vol 2
Recorded live at a variety of venues, this is another chance to see Yasmina and
her orchestra in action, this time featuring a series of tableaux in which she
interacts with her additional dancers. It contains Eskanderani, Saeedi, Baladi,
Raks Shamadan (candelabra) and Awalim styles. Kicking off with opening music,
it finishes with a drum solo duet with ace sagat player Sayed. Volume Two
contains nine costume changes and runs at just over 60 minutes. |
JOURNEY OF DESIRE: A FOREIGN DANCER IN CAIRO
In association with Farida Dance, Yasmina has written and produced this
full-length part documentary, part performance film, directed by Sara
Farouk.
‘Stills from dance sequence Asal wa Suka’. Photos by Sherif Sonbol
Yasmina says:
“This film begins with my own personal journey through ten years of
dancing in Cairo, and endeavours to answer the question I have been so
frequently asked: why would a well-educated middle class western woman, living
in comfort and surrounded by family and friends, chose to give up all that and
become a dancer in Cairo? To become part of a profession that in the Middle
East is not considered respectable, to live in an alien culture, to struggle
through a maze of beaurocratic impediments, linguistic misunderstandings and
physical and artistic challenges – just to perform on a Cairo nightclub
stage?
“It includes a mix of footage documenting the ‘Cairo
experience’, and although it is seen through my eyes, I think many dancers
the world over will be able to find things in it they recognize and identify
with. Although ‘Journey of Desire’ is a low budget production, the
makers have had the advantage and luxury of time and inside knowledge to put
this film together. It has no outside agenda, no axe to grind, and is made by
and for lovers of Egyptian dance.”
Order now from the following distributors:
www.faridadance.com
www.ameraspalace.com.au
www.dahlal.com
www.bellydanceboutique.co.uk (UK)
www.studiohenna.fi
(Finland)
www.boutique.samara-danse.fr (France)
Read reviews and
Yasmina's article on the making of the film
| ‘Stills from dance sequence Asal wa Suka’ Photos by Sherif Sonbol
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‘Saeedi dance sequence on location. Photo by Claude Stemelin |
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