Scroll down to discover my love story with Mahmoud (plus, a special offer on our "Reda Dance Style" Course Bundle⤵️⤵️⤵️

My love story with Mahmoud Reda.

He didn´t believe me when I told him that years before I moved to Egypt to start my career, I´d been in one of his workshops at "Ahlan wa Sahlan" festival.

- No way. I´d remember you. - He assured me.

He didn´t remember me, although I´d been there, because I hid in the back, in the last row, and I ran away the moment the workshop was over. 

When I signed my first dance contract in Cairo, an act of triumph that took two years and a rollercoaster of a ride to achieve, I knew I wanted to have a varied and rich show. 

For that to happen, I needed to learn Egyptian Folklore and get better at creating a concept for my performances.

If the best was available, that´s where I´d go: to the best, directly into the lion´s mouth.

There was nobody better than Mahmoud, the Father of Egyptian Folklore and founder of the iconic "Reda Troupe", to teach me what I wanted to learn.

I booked a private class. 

When I handed him the money to pay for the class, he declared:

- I´ll never take a penny from you. It´ll be an honor to teach you. Come to my studio whenever you wish and I´ll teach you everything I know.

Used to being fooled, taken advantage of, and manipulated in the jungle of Cairo, I resisted the idea of believing him.

-There´s a catch, here. - I thought. - No way, Mahmoud Reda is going to teach me for free without asking for something in return.

Yet, that was exactly what he did: during the 8 years I performed and lived in Egypt, he taught me all he had and he never charged a penny for it. 

Eventually, I started working with him. Whenever he needed me, I was there, as much as he was there for me. 

A friendship and an unbreakable heart connection was born.  

We worked together. We sang Jazz tunes, ate fish, cracked jokes, and marveled at the music of Abdel Wahab. 

People didn´t know what to make of us:

- Is she his lover? (Mahmoud was old enough to be my grandfather and he was married; I was in a committed relationship; and still, people would make up stories)

- Is he her grandfather?

-What´s the deal with them?

Nobody understood and we didn´t care because we knew of the loyalty and the genuine affection and respect we had for each other.

More than a friend, or a dance teacher; more than a dance collaborator and a reference, he was my home away from home.

Everything I do, in my dance and life, is shaped by his genius, kindness, and infinite generosity❤ 

To enjoy the special deal we´re offering - a 25% discount - on our "Reda Dance Style" Course Bundle, available until the 21st of March, keep scrolling down

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