Soheir Zaki

Soheir Zaki (born in Mansoura, Egypt on January 4, 1945) is an Egyptian belly dancer and actress. She appeared in over 100 Egyptian films from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Soheir Zaki
Born
Suheir Zaki Abdullah

(1945-01-04) January 4, 1945
Mansoura, Egypt
OccupationDancer, actress
Years active1960 – 1992

Early life

Soheir Zaki was born in Mansoura, Egypt on January 4, 1945. When she was 9 her parents moved the family to Alexandria. Her father died when she was young and her mother remarried. Her stepfather later became her manager. Zaki first learned how to dance by watching films featuring Taheyya Kariokka and Samia Gamal.[1]

Career

She began her career as a wedding dancer in Alexandria. Television producer Mohammed Salem saw her dancing and decided to launch her as a TV presenter on Egyptian television. However, she showed more skill as a dancer and became known for her appearances on shows like Adwa el Medina.[2] She then moved to appearing in Egyptian films. She played minor roles in most of her films, concentrating mainly on dancing. In interviews, she has stated that Nagua Fouad was her "biggest rival" at the time.[2]

Zaki also performed frequently in Egyptian nightclubs, particularly at the Nile Hilton Hotel in Cairo.[3] In 1964, she became to first belly dancer to dance to Umm Kulthum's music when she danced to "Inta Omri".[1]

Over the course of her career, Zaki danced for many politicians, including Anwar Sadat, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Richard Nixon. She retired in 1992, although she later taught belly dance at Raqia Hassan's Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance in Cairo.[2]

Personal life

She was married to Egyptian cinematographer Mohamed Emara. She gave birth to their son Hamada in 1987.[1]

Partial filmography
  • 1963 Thaman al Hob (The Price of Love)
  • 1963 Aelit Zizi' (Zizi's Family)
  • 1963 Sanawat El Hobb’ (Years of Love)
  • 1964 Hekayet Gawaz (The Story of a Marriage)
  • 1964 Daani wal demouh (Alone with My Tears)
  • 1964 Matloub Zawja Fawran (An Intimate Wedding)
  • 1966 Cairo 30
  • 1966 Al Abeed (The Idiot)
  • 1969 Al-shaitan (The devil)
  • 1970 Seraa Maa el Mawt (The Struggle with Death)
  • 1970 El Maganeen el Talata (The Three Lunatics)
  • 1971 Rejal fil al Misyada (Men in the Trap)
  • 1972 Melouk al Shar (Kings of Evil)
  • 1975 Alo, ana al ghetta (Hello, I am the Cat)
  • 1978 Sultana al Tarab
  • 1978 ‘Al Kallema Al Akhira (The Last Word)
  • 1979 Yomhel wala Yohmel (God Waits but Never Neglects)
  • 1982 Aroussa Wa Gouz Ersan (A Bride and Two Grooms)
  • 1983 Enna Rabbaka Labelmersad (The Lord of the Lookout)
  • 1983 Al Rajel Elle Ba'aa al Shams

References
  1. Sullivan, Francesca (February 2002). "Sohair Zaki Singing with Her Body". Habibi. 19.
  2. Hammond, Andrew (2005). Pop Culture Arab World!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO. p. 252. ISBN 1851094490.
  3. Abaza, Mona (2006). Changing Consumer Cultures of Modern Egypt: Cairo's Urban Reshaping. Brill. p. 149. ISBN 9004152776.
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