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Asmahan
began her professional danceing career at the Greek Taverna
in San Francisco. Working for one year with a four piece
Greek band was a good begining experience. This was a lovely
family resturant and perfect to learn to dance in front of an
audience. The next job opportunity came to dance at The Casbah
with Fadil Shahin who was a superb singer and
oud player. Jallal Takesh played kanoon with Salah
Takesh on tabla. Other musicians accompanied on violin or
nai with the dancers playing def. Some of the other dancers at
this time were Rhea, Aida, Selwa, Raina,
Safia, and an Iraqi called Princess Samia.
Asmahan continued her training with Jamila and studied drum with
the tabla player at the Bagdad, to learn the intricate
drum rhythms. The music was fantastic. She played the def on
stage with the band.
Aboud
Abdel Al came
from London with his orchestra including Bashir Abdel Al,
Mohammad El-Berjway, George Basil, and Chazi
Darwish. They made a guest appearance at the Casbah and recorded
an album with Fadil Shahin and the Casbah band. These musicians
told Asmahan about London and encouraged her to go there to dance.
In
1976 the London night club scene was limited to three famous
venues. One of them was the Gallipoli, an
elegant Turkish resturant with a dinner show. It had previously
been a Turkish bath in Queen Victoria's time and was declared
a monument which protected it from change. They had been bringing
famous dancers from Turkey like Soroya and Princess
Banu. Asmahan was given a one year contract and "Star"
billing. There was a good Turkish band including Erol Grochen,
Emine Zihni, and Bahri Karaduman. After her
show she would go to Omar Khayyam to watch the famous
Egyptian dancers Aisa Sheriffe and Mona Said, and
to see the singers Ahmed Adaweya and Katcut El Amir.
This club was bringing the most famous dancers, singers and musicians
in the Middle East to London. At this time she was learning the
modern Egyptian style of dance and learning the new music being
composed for the dancers. The next club for Asmahan to perform
at was The Pars Persian 1001 Nights. They had a
twelve piece orchestra with six dancers and six singers. The
videttes while she was dancing there were Jamila (Persian),
Soroya Giseria (from Algeria), and Safa Yusri (Egyptian).
The famous Lebanese singer Wadia Safie, Adnan Ahlen
and Yasmine were featured at this time. Now many more
clubs were opening and the London scene was very competitive.
The
next venue where Asmahan danced was Shehrezade,
which was a private membership club. The vidette was Amira
Fouad. The famous singers performing were Fahed Bahlen,
Mohammad Rhushdie, Samir Adaweya, and Walid
Tawfic. The composer and accordianist Farouk Salama was
the Chef d'Orchestra, Maher Chairi played flute, violin
was Fouad Rahaim and Nasser Khaseb, Mohamad
Afifi on kanoon, and the famous composer for Om Khalsum,
Ramadan el Subati played organ. Sultan's Palace
was located in Berkely Square in the Mayfair area and attracted
an exclusive clientele. Asmahan was a feature dancer there for
six months. The vidette was Hairtum and a beautiful dancer
Shehrezade danced there as well. The famous singers performing
were Mouharem Fouad (who was tipped to be the next Abdel
Halim Hafez), Souad Mohammed, Layla Afrom, and
Naga Salem. The Saidi group Les Musicians du Nil,
with Metqal Qenawi Metqal produced a folklore show from
Upper Egypt. Aboud Abdel Al played his world famous solo
violin show, and the band leader was the the famous composer
Hassan Aboud Soud. The organ artist was Sayed Fahim
el Sayed, Ibrihim el Akhad played tabla and Joseph
Alexander played def. The comedian Ahmed Shanowi was
the compare.
At
El Nile, there were twelve dancers and only three
were allowed to dance every night (with the others dancing evey
other night). Asmahan was one for those dancing every night.
The videttes over an one year period were Nahed Sabri,
Nelly Fouad, and Safa Yousri. The famous singers performing
were Mohammad Abdel Mouteib, Souhad Mohammed,
Nahad Foutah, Adel Salem el Khir, and Mohamed
Gamal. There was a fifteen piece orchestra with Bashir
Abdel Al playing nai, Nabil Abdel Al on guitar,
Nagati on violin, Sukar al Ghouri on accordian,
Samir bin Yamin on def, and the renowned tabla Nabil Hassan.
Aboud Abdel Al played his solo violin number.
L'Auberge
opened
in Mayfair with the famous Egyptian dancer Mona Said as
the star. Asmahan danced there for six months. The singers were
Adel Mamoun, Naga Salem, Faten Farid, Katcut
el Amir, Mouharem Fouad, Ahmed Adaweya,
Talal el Mada, Faiza Ahmed, and Shadia. Magdi
Housaini, who worked with Abdel Halim Hafez performed
his solo organ show. Hany Mehanna who composed for Nagwa
Fouad was the chef d'orchestra. Sahar Hamdi was also
a star dancer who performed during this time.
In
1979 Asmahan wanted to begin to develope her tableaux (feature
dance) which in her case was the sword dance. In London only
the big stars could change costumes and do a second show. An
impressario booked her to dance in Vienna for six months
as the vidette at a beautiful dinner club called Asmahan.
The show was a great success with OPEC ministers attending
performances, Shiek Yamani of Saudi Arabia booked her
to dance at his daughters wedding. This was the winter Ball Season
in Vienna and European royality were adding a glamorous influence.
The sword show was a sensation with the audience.
In
1980 the time was right to try to work in Cairo. She had
met and worked with many famous artists in London and was hoping
to make connections in Cairo to secure a contract. All of the
artists were always helping each other to find work (or if they
didn't like one or were jealous would prevent one from working!)
She was optimistic someone would show her the way as this had
always been her destiny. Soroya G'Algersiawas working
at Arizona and El Leil, she advised
her to take a job at the Atlas Hotel in Opera Square,
where she could live as resident dancer and have a base of operation
to find a prestigious contract. This was a favorite hangout for
movie stars and she was soon in with a group who brought her
to the Meridian Hotel to see FiFi Abdou,
after being invited to dance by Fifi, the manager gave her a
contract to dance for two months at the Meridian Hotel.
She hired her own twelve piece orchestra with a mismar for the
sword show. There was always a huge applause every night when
she placed the sword on her head for the balancing and when she
played finger cymbals in the last section, with a spinnng finale
there was always a feeling the show had been a big success. So
much so that she was contracted to work for Hanan at the
Mena House Oberoi, she improved the orchestra and
added the saidi drums.
Then
Asmahan signed to substitute for Nagwa Fuwad when she
left the Cairo Sheraton and Mona Said
would be starting in six weeks. These were the most famous dancers
in the world and to entertain their audiences was quite a feat.
There was always a fantastic reception for her and she felt she
was making good progress towards making a name and eventually
getting a contract. There were no other foreign dancers. Being
foreign meant Lebanese, most people thought she was Egyptian.There
was always alot of competition to have the biggest and best orchestra,
the most wonderful Magency, (original music for the entrance),
most incredible costumes, best singers and back-up dancers, and
best folklore shows. The big stars had the most money to buy
the best talent, and each dancer had her own style and unique
show. Asmahan was constantly sewing new costumes and having rehearsals
and bringing in new musicians as the budget allowed. Every bit
of money earned was invested in a better show.
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