| Mahmoud Reda |
Born on 18 March 1930 in Cairo, Egypt, Mahmoud Reda is a pioneer of dance theatre in Egypt. Mahmoud.
As a soloist, choreographer and director of hundreds of productions, he has toured in over 60 countries,
performing on the world's most prestigious stages, for heads of state, kinds and queens of many countries.
He has been principal actor, dancer and choreographer in popular Egyptian films.
Mahmoud Reda has been universally acclaimed for his dance with the strength of and appeal of a Gene Kelly
or Fred Astaire.
In 1959 he founded the first folk dance company, The Reda Band, which consisted only of 15 members , all
dancers. Today,it has more than 150 talented members including dancers , musicians and technicians . The
band has presented more than 300 shows including dances and folkloric songs , ballads , with different
rhythm and different features creating an atmosphere of entertainment and happiness . The band also
participated in two musical movies : " Mid year vacation " and " Love in Elkarnak". Reda Band is endorsed by
the Egyptian Government "as a band capable of representing the Egyptian Folklore both in music and
dances." The group traveled throughout Egypt collecting folk dances, and then toured the world, promoting
those dances as fine art, worthy of respect.
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 more than 60 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 1999, he was honored by the International Dance
Committee/Unesco and by the International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance in May 2001.
Mahmoud Reda draws from techniques of jazz, ballet, Hindu dance and folkloric dance from the USSR. His
work has shaped and influenced what is known today as Oriental Dance (Raks Sharki). Many former troupe
members include master teachers Raqia Hassan, Momo Kadous, Mo Geddawi and Yousry Sharif.
In the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952, Mahmoud Reda represented Egypt in gymnastics after winning a
gold medal in free exercise at the Arab Countries Championships Alexandria in 1950. Mahmoud Reda holds
a degree in commerce from the University of Cairo. From 1982 to 1990 he was Under-Secretary of State in
the Ministry of Culture. His publications include "In the Temple of Dance"
As a soloist, choreographer and director of hundreds of productions, he has toured in over 60 countries,
performing on the world's most prestigious stages, for heads of state, kinds and queens of many countries.
He has been principal actor, dancer and choreographer in popular Egyptian films.
Mahmoud Reda has been universally acclaimed for his dance with the strength of and appeal of a Gene Kelly
or Fred Astaire.
In 1959 he founded the first folk dance company, The Reda Band, which consisted only of 15 members , all
dancers. Today,it has more than 150 talented members including dancers , musicians and technicians . The
band has presented more than 300 shows including dances and folkloric songs , ballads , with different
rhythm and different features creating an atmosphere of entertainment and happiness . The band also
participated in two musical movies : " Mid year vacation " and " Love in Elkarnak". Reda Band is endorsed by
the Egyptian Government "as a band capable of representing the Egyptian Folklore both in music and
dances." The group traveled throughout Egypt collecting folk dances, and then toured the world, promoting
those dances as fine art, worthy of respect.
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 more than 60 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 1999, he was honored by the International Dance
Committee/Unesco and by the International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance in May 2001.
Mahmoud Reda draws from techniques of jazz, ballet, Hindu dance and folkloric dance from the USSR. His
work has shaped and influenced what is known today as Oriental Dance (Raks Sharki). Many former troupe
members include master teachers Raqia Hassan, Momo Kadous, Mo Geddawi and Yousry Sharif.
In the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952, Mahmoud Reda represented Egypt in gymnastics after winning a
gold medal in free exercise at the Arab Countries Championships Alexandria in 1950. Mahmoud Reda holds
a degree in commerce from the University of Cairo. From 1982 to 1990 he was Under-Secretary of State in
the Ministry of Culture. His publications include "In the Temple of Dance"