Cairo, the 9th January, 2010


“Awakenings – Mahmoud Reda being recognized in his own country (Thanks God!)”


Mahmoud Reda’s work was appreciated and supported by past Egyptian Governments until the Minister of Culture decided to retire him from his job at an age when Mahmoud’s creativity was at its best.
Since then, the famous “Reda Troupe” fell to the ground and even beyond and lost its shine, productivity and talent.
The Government decided to ignore the Dancing Field in this country and didn’t mind to see a wasted talent like Mahmoud away from the troupe he created.

Many years after that…
The current Egyptian Government is, finally, taking notice of Mahmoud Reda’s work in the field of Dance and Egyptian Culture.
Mahmoud Reda’s legacy is not more important than the work is STILL doing nowadays all over the world. The “Father of Egyptian Folklore” is more active and creative than ever and it was sad that the current Ministry of Culture ignored it until recently when the Alexandria Library took the initiative to sponsor and support some shows (Egyptian male dancers and dance troupes from abroad) regarding Mahmoud’s legacy.

Recently, Mahmoud has been extensively interviewed by the press (newspapers and television) and this exposure has raised the question:
Why Mahmoud is teaching and choreographing for dancers all over the world – and being honoured and appreciated abroad – and forgotten in his own country where he can still do so much?!

I hope Mahmoud Reda’s talent is not wasted any more and that his own country – not its people but its Government – realizes he still needs him.

More so, I hope this exposure and questioning will awake, once more, the debate over Dance in Egypt and how much it can do for the country’s identity and image towards the world.
Like it or not, DANCE is a major part of Egyptian Culture and Identity. Only ignorant or hypocritical people can deny it.