Eshta

Hello ladies, I need your help!

I am studying Samia Gamal & I've never been a big fan (don't shoot me!) but I'm trying to keep an open mind. I'm not sure what it is that has never done it for me, but I am hoping you might be able to enlighten me!

Do you have any youtube clips of Samia that you particularly like & tell me what it is you like about it?

I'll start with a clip that I don't like, to be devil's advocate!

YouTube - Samia Gamal - Kahramana ????? ???? ????? ??????

I don't understand the context so maybe missing something but it looks like someone pretending to bellydance...

Ok, open fire!

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Jane

If I'm remembering the movie correctly, this one is where Samia is some sort of Jinni. I believe it's supposed to be a comedy and she's laying it on a bit thick.

Jane

This one's a better clip.

janaki

Many of Samia Gamal clips are from the movies. You can't capture the true essence of belly dance from them. The dance has to fit in with the theme and story line of the movie.

sedoniaraqs

I also do not like this clip, because I believe that her dancing and the music got un-synced in the film production. In other clips, Samia has beautiful musicality, and tends to hit musical accents with her right shoulder. In this clip, she seems to be hitting before or after them, not on them. Her dancing seems very unconnected to the music to me.

As others have said, its a scene in the movie Afrita Hanem where she plays both a human dancer, and a genie. The genie has given poor singer Farid al Atrache riches and a mansion, and wants to seduce him.

Shanazel

I love Samia Gamal, but certainly will not shoot anyone who disagrees with me! Her musicality, physical grace, and control appeal to me, as does the relative simplicity of her performances- no big showy pops and freezes, no dramatic drops, no running about the stage, or high kicks. It is almost 23:00 here right now, but I will try and find some of my favorite clips for you later.

Kharmine

I love that clip, Jane! It's a very different side of Samia's dancing -- usually, she's portrayed in kind of a Hollywood musical-type setting with lots of glam and big, sweeping moves. The Lady Genie movie is a good example. Very showy, with a lot of ballet influence.

This other clip showed her doing something pretty close to folkloric. I've always liked her use of arms, and she always looks likes she's having a great time. But this time she was less Hollywood and more Cairo.

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What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

*elly belly*

I really wanna know what the heck theyre arguing about, it sure is entertaining =P

Suheir

How about Mark's take on Samia? I love the little backwards lunges to each side - so much nicer than Randa's rather aggressive take on that move!

Kharmine

It's a nice tribute to Samia's style, but definitely not just an imitation. A very clever homage, Mark.

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What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?