Home :: About Nicola

Créme de la Créme - Eshta Ya Amar

:: Nicola's Education, Training & Experience::
:: Créme de la Créme - Eshta Ya Amar ::

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This means "Créme de la Créme - O Moon!". It's a high and heartfelt compliment to pay to someone. There are many people who have made my journey as a dancer more rewarding, more exciting, more inspired, and more passionate by sharing their gifts.

Master dancers who have inspired me:

• Tahia Carioca,
• Cassandra,
• Mona Said,
• Hadia,
• Souhair Zaki,
• Dina,
• Sahra Saeeda Kent,
• Lucy,
• Randa,
• Mahmoud Reda,
• Denise Enan,
• Gene Kelly,
• Cyd Charisse,
• Donald O'Connor.

Favourite, most worthwhile workshop experiences:

• Sahra Saeeda Kent,
• Cassandra,
• Hadia,
• Denise Enan.

Favourite videos/DVDs:

• Hadia's videos, volumes 1-6;
• Cassandra's Performance videos, volumes 1 and 2;
• Sahra Saeeda's "Al Dounya" video;
• Mona Said's Master class video from her 1997 tour;
• Nagwa Fouad and Souhair Zaki Live in Abu Dabi;
• "Stars of Egypt: Tahia Carioca".

My favourite songs, albums and artists:

• "Ya Amarti" and "Mashaal" - the versions on Jalilah's Raks Sharqi series;
• "Leylet Hob"
  
• "Olulu"
  
• 1002 Nachts by Mohammed Ali;
  
• Faddah and Source of Fire by Hossam Ramzy;
  
• "Ana Fi Intizarak";
  
• "Enta Omri";
  
• "Mistaneek" by Natacha Atlas;
  
• Amar 1--truly the entire Jalilah's Raks Sharqi series (volumes 1-6) is all you really need if you were stranded on a deserted island! Thank-you Jalilah for giving us all this gift of great music.
  anything by Musiciens du Nil.
  
• Hakim, of course.
  
• Fatme Serhan--I love what she did with Dina.
  

My favourite films. Some are about dance, some include dance, some are about learning your art and reaching for the stars:

• "Strictly Ballroom",
• "Drumline",
• "Singin' in the Rain",
• "Latcho Drom",
• "Moulin Rouge",
• "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes",
• "Gypsy Rose Lee".