Shimmy Mob - Washington, DC

Official team site representing our Nation's Capitol

Legendary Dancers

The objective of World Belly Dance Day is to celebrate and educate oriental music and dance. The following is a very basic information to begin your bellydance journey. Enjoy!

Nagwa Fouad

Brith name: Awatif Mohamed Agami Born: Jan ? 1939 in Cairo. Best known for: Le orientali (1961), The Honeymoon Fell Flat (1960) and Ismail Yassin in the Air Force (1959).

Samia Gamal

Birth name: Zeinab Ali Khalil Ibrahim Mahfouz Born: May 27 1924 in Bani Swaif . Died: Dec 1 1994 in Cairo. Best known for: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1954), Little Miss Devil (1949) and A Cigarette and a Glass (1955). Was married to famous actor, Rushdy Abaza.

Tahia Caricoca

Birth name: Badawiya Mohamed Karim Ali Sayed Born: Feb 22 1919 in Cairo. Died: Sep 20 1999 in Cairo. Best known for: Over 300 movies and legendary count of 14 marriages -- one to actor Rushdy Abaza. Mythical story of once slapped King Farouk when he threw an ice cube down her dress still circulates. Her funeral procession was led by Cultural Prime Minister Farouk Hosni at a time when fundmentalist Islam had erased her art.

Naima Akef

Born: Oct 7 1932 in Tanta, Egypt. Died: Apr 23 1966 in Cairo. Best known for: Aziza (1955). Tamr Henna (1957).

Fifi Abdou

Birthname: Atiyat Abdul Fattah Ibrahim Born: April 26 1953 in Cairo Best known for: "Queen of Oriental Dance". Several films and television shows. Some Egyptians see her dancing as contrary to the tenets of Islam. In 1991, she was charged with "depraved movements" by a Cairo court and sentenced to three months in jail. In 1999, Grand Mufti Sheik Nasr Farid Wasil issued an edict against her going to Mecca for hajj, but eventually retracted it.

Dina Talaat

Birthanme: Dina Talaat Sayed Muhammad Born: March 27, 1965 in Rome, Italy. Best known for: In 2009, Newsweek named her the "Last Egyptian Dancer". She often danced in a bikini or short over regular costume. Numerous films and television shows. www.facebook.com/dina.t.sayed https://twitter.com/dinatalaats

Nadia Gamal

Birthanme: Maria Kardiadis 1937 in Alexandria, Egypt. 1990 in Beirut, Lebannon Best known for: Filmwork. Credited as the originator of the modern style of Lebanese raqs sharqi and her extensive use of floorwork. She often included folkloric dance, Bedouin dances and Zār dance. www.facebook.com/pages/NADIA-GAMAL-The-Legend/115258938496462

Helena Vlahos

Vlahos started her dance career in Los Angeles, California in the mid 1960‘s. She has been a favored dancer from that time to the present. She has been on television shows such as “AM Los Angeles”, “That’s Incredible”, “Spectacular World of Guinness Records” and many more for her unique 9 quarter act. www.helenavlahos.com