Skip to main content
Back to search
  • Add to playlist

Samia forever

The second part of the triptych “Regard sur le cinéma musical arabe” (a look at Arab musical cinema), Samia forever pays a resounding tribute to the woman who, for more than twenty years, was the “Marilyn Monroe” of Egyptian musicals. Between film extracts, archives and testimonies, the film traces the life of Samia Gamal (1924-1994) who, by becoming a cinema legend, established herself as one of the icons of Oriental dance. 

“Perhaps dance was innate in me”, she said. And so it had to be to dedicate one’s life to that art as, while Oriental dance (“raqs al-sharqui”) is a cultural phenomenon as old as it is indisputable, Egyptian society has always stigmatised its dancers. Born in Upper Egypt, Zainab Ibrahim Mahfuz arrived in Cairo with her family in 1932. She worked in a sewing workshop until her father’s death (she was then 16), before meeting Baadia Masabni, the inventor of modern Oriental dance, who would be her mentor. It was in Baadia's troupe where she met Tahia Carioca, her closest rival, that Samia Gamal developed her own style. In 1944, she made the acquaintance of the playboy actor Farid al-Atrash with whom she formed a duo de charme for five years both on the silver screen and in real life. Samia Gamal owes her star status not only to her sensual beauty and the quality of her dance, but also to her romantic woes, at the convergence between her life and her roles.

Samia Forever

Artistic direction / Conception : Saïda Boukhemal

Production / Coproduction of the video work : Potlatch production, CNC, TV5 Monde, Cinémathèque de la danse, Groupe OCEI

Our videos suggestions
02:58

Lykion Ton Hellinidon

Drandakis, Lefteris (France)

  • Add to playlist
06:10

We are Numeridanse : Abou Lagraa et Nawal Aït Benalla Lagraa

Lagraa, Abou (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:52

We are Numeridanse : Alban Richard

Richard, Alban (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:19

We are Numeridanse : Ambra Senatore

Senatore, Ambra (France)

  • Add to playlist
07:10

We are Numeridanse : Anne Décoret Ahiha

  • Add to playlist
07:45

We are Numeridanse : Carolyn Carlson

Carlson, Carolyn (France)

  • Add to playlist
05:36

We are Numeridanse : Catherine Tsekenis

  • Add to playlist
07:47

We are Numeridanse : Christian et François Ben Aïm

Ben Aïm, Christian & François (France)

  • Add to playlist
05:33

We are Numeridanse : Dominique Hervieu

Hervieu, Dominique (France)

  • Add to playlist
06:46

We are Numeridanse : Héla Fattoumi et Éric Lamoureux

Fattoumi, Héla (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:08

We are Numeridanse : Florencia Guerberof

Guerberof, Florencia (France)

  • Add to playlist
04:50

We are Numeridanse : Heddy Maalem

Maalem, Heddy (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:16

  • Add to playlist
05:11

We are Numeridanse : Jean-Marc Matos

Matos, Jean-Marc (France)

  • Add to playlist
10:39

We are Numeridanse : Lalanbik

Thomas, Soraya (Reunion)

  • Add to playlist
02:20

We are Numeridanse : Mourad Merzouki

Merzouki, Mourad (France)

  • Add to playlist
08:00

We Are Numeridanse

Oulad, Nawel (France)

  • Add to playlist
04:31

We are Numeridanse : Noé Soulier

Soulier, Noé (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:20

We are Numeridanse : Thierry Malandain

Malandain, Thierry (France)

  • Add to playlist
04:33

We are Numeridanse : Yuval Pick

Pick, Yuval (France)

  • Add to playlist
Our themas suggestions

Western classical dance enters the modernity of the 20th century: The Ballets russes and the Ballets suédois

Parcours

Céline Roux

Western classical dance enters the modernity of the 20th century: The Ballets russes and the Ballets suédois

Parcours

If the 19th century is that of romanticism, the entry into the new century is synonymous of modernity! It was a few decades later that it would be assigned, a posteriori, the name of “neo-classical”. 

Discover
Know more

COLLECTION BAGOUET

Exposition virtuelle

Montpellier Danse

COLLECTION BAGOUET

Exposition virtuelle

La collection Dominique Bagouet sur Numeridanse présente les œuvres les plus emblématiques de son répertoire et s’enrichit au fur et à mesure de films liés à la transmission de son répertoire grâce au travail mené par l’association Les Carnets Bagouet.

Discover
Know more

James Carlès

Exposition virtuelle

Numeridanse

James Carlès

Exposition virtuelle

© Emmanuel Tussore

Discover
Know more

Indian dances

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Indian dances

Parcours

Discover Indian dance through choreographic creations which unveil it, evoke it, revisit it or transform it!

Discover
Know more

Les racines de la diversité en danse contemporaine

Exposition virtuelle

Centre chorégraphique James Carlès

Les racines de la diversité en danse contemporaine

Exposition virtuelle

La danse contemporaine désigne des courants artistiques succédant à la danse moderne. Mais il est difficile de cerner précisément cette expression, tant elle inclus différentes pratiques et esthétiques. Aujourd’hui, le mot « contemporain » intègre des danses actuelles, urbaines, théâtrales, de différentes origines géographiques ou «culturelles». Une exposition virtuelle signée par la Compagnie James Carlès Danse &Co.

Discover
Know more

Modern Dance and Its American Roots [1900-1930] From Free Dance to Modern Dance

Parcours

Céline Roux

Modern Dance and Its American Roots [1900-1930] From Free Dance to Modern Dance

Parcours

At the dawn of the 20th century, in a rapidly changing West, a new dance appeared: Modern Dance. In the United States as in Europe, modern trends emerge simultaneously and intertwine in thier development. Let's dive into the beginnings of American modern dance!  

Discover
Know more

La petite histoire de Numeridanse

Exposition virtuelle

Numeridanse

La petite histoire de Numeridanse

Exposition virtuelle

Comment ce projet un peu fou a-t-il été créé ? Et par qui ? Voici une exposition virtuelle qui nous permettra de répondre à toutes les questions que vous pourriez vous poser sur Numeridanse,  l’occasion aussi de vous raconter notre histoire, et surtout celle de la  plateforme...  

Discover
Know more

Black Dance

Webdoc

Julie Charrier

Black Dance

Webdoc

James Carlès, dancer and choreographer and specialist of Afro-American dance, evokes the origin of current-day urban dances. From Africa to the United States via Europe, he emphasizes their hybrid style and puts their social and political dimension into perspective. A myriad of videos, photos, illustrations and additional resources complement this interview.
Discover
Know more

Do you mean Folklores?

Parcours

Sarah Nouveau

Do you mean Folklores?

Parcours

Presentation of how choreographers are revisiting Folklore in contemporary creations.

Discover
Know more

Dance and music

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Dance and music

Parcours

The relationship between music and choreographic works varies throught dance history.

Discover
Know more

Hand dances

Parcours

Julie Charrier

Hand dances

Parcours

This parcours presents different video extracts in which hands are the center of the mouvement.

Discover
Know more

Rituals

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Rituals

Parcours

Discover how the notion of ritual makes sense in various dances through these extracts.

Discover
Know more

Genres and styles

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Genres and styles

Parcours

Dance is a rather vast term, which covers a myriad of specificities. These depend on the culture of a country, on a period, on a place. This Journey proposes a visit through dance genres and styles.

Discover
Know more
By accessing the website, you acknowledge and accept the use of cookies to assist you in your browsing.
You can block these cookies by modifying the security parameters of your browser or by clicking onthis link.
I accept Learn more