Mohamed Ali Workshops and Show

Saidi & Shaabi 

Mohamed Ali Workshops and Show

Saturday, February 22nd 2020

Workshops at the Living Art Collective in Durham, NC 

11am-1am Saidi (Upper Egyptian "Stick" Dance) - SOLD OUT

*If you have a stick/cane please bring one. Additional canes will be provided to use/purchase at the workshop.

2pm- 4pm Oriental Shaabi (Modern Egyptian Oriental & Street Dance) - SOLD OUT

Full Day Package Deal: $80

*All levels of dance experience are welcomed. 

Evening Show at the Durham Fruit and Produce Co

Doors and Bar Opens at 6:30pm

Show Starts 7:00pm

Admission: $10

About Mohamed Ali:

Mohamed was born and raised in one of the oldest countries in the world, Egypt. Growing up in the city of Alexandria, Mohamed was the second youngest of six siblings in a very large traditional family. His favorite thing growing up was to watch tv, hoping to catch any shows with dancing so he could dance along. He knew even then as a young child that dance was his calling in life. In 1998, at the age of 11 and with his family’s support, he began dancing with the El Horrya Folk Dance Troupe in Alexandria under the leadership of the Alexandrian artist, Nasr Eldin Mohamed. He continued to dance in the children’s troupe for and take classes at the Egyptian Academy of Performing Arts. He had a recognizable talent for dance and would repeatedly stand out amongst his peers in his classes. He received many first place awards in local competitions and festivals. He also participated and gained many accolades in team performances with the children’s troupe. 

After 7 years with the children’s dance troupe, Mohamed moved on to performing with the adult dance troupe. El Horrya became his second family. With his 30 team members, he traveled around the world. Mohamed has been to at least 20 countries, participating in festivals, ceremonies, and competitions, including places like France, India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Japan, the United States, and two of his favorites: South Korea and Greece. During his travels, he met some fantastic dance teams and continued to excel and place first in team and solo competitions. 

After many years travelling with El Horrya, Mohamed decided it was time to move on and pursue dance in a new environment. With much planning and thought, Mohamed decided to move to the United States to continue his career. He created his own dance troupe, Seven Egyptian Dance, and although still in it’s beginning stages, he is slowly building his own team. You can consistently find Mohamed dancing up and down the east coast, and he is branching out to more locations in the western US as his career expands. He also teaches workshops in all types of Egyptian dance at Sahara Dance in Washington D.C. and has travelled to the Ukraine and Mexico to perform, teach, and judge in large festivals. Most recently, Mohamed was a Master Teacher at the Hazar Fazar Bellydance Festival in Dallas, TX, teaching workshops, performing his specialty dances, and judging the dance competition. Mohamed has been making his mark in the US, performing and teaching Saidi, Hagalla, Nubian, Eskndarani, and his specialty, Tanoura. When he dances, he feels a sense of freedom and power. He feels pride in his country and it’s traditions. He continues to build his career with his intense passion for dance. For Mohamed, no dream is too big.