Dalilah (bellydancer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dalilah
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Dalilah in front of the Sphinx
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| Born |
Adelaida Angulo Agramunt
July 7, 1936 |
| Died | September 17, 2001 (aged 65) |
| Nationality | Egyptian, Spanish |
| Other names | Delia Turina |
| Occupation | Belly dancer, Flamenco dancer |
| Spouse(s) | Paul King |
Dalilah (Egyptian Arabic: دليلة Daleela), also known as Delia Turina, was a famous Egyptian-Spanish dancer. Her birth name was Adelaida Angulo Agramunt. She was born on July 7, 1936, in Madrid, Spain. Dalilah became well-known for her amazing belly dance and Flamenco performances. She passed away on September 17, 2001, also in Madrid.
Dalilah's Dance Journey
Early Training and Start
Dalilah started dancing at a very young age, just three years old! She learned from many great teachers. These included Miss Karen Taft for ballet, La Quica and Regla Ortega for Flamenco, and José Luis Udaeta for Spanish Classical Dance. She also studied Bolero School with Luisa Perice.
Discovering Belly Dance in Egypt
In 1954, Dalilah traveled to Egypt with her Spanish dance partner, Jose Molina. They performed alongside famous Egyptian dancers like Samia Gamal and Taheyya Kariokka. After a short time, Dalilah and Jose decided to go their separate ways.
Then, something special happened. The singer Wadih Al Safi noticed Dalilah. He encouraged her to try belly dance. Dalilah decided to leave her Spanish dancing career behind and focus on this new style.
Becoming a Star in Cairo
By 1959, Dalilah was a big name in Egypt. She was chosen as "dancer of the year" along with Nagwa Fouad. This was for the grand opening of the Nile Hilton hotel in Cairo. Many Hollywood stars, like Martha Hyer and Jane Russell, came for the event.
Dalilah faced challenges, but she had a mentor. The legendary dancer Tahia Carioca helped her with advice and support.
Performing for Royalty and Leaders
Dalilah became so famous that she performed for many important people. She danced for kings and queens across the Middle East. These included the Shah of Persia and Queen Soraya. She also performed for King Farouk, King Hussein of Jordan, and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
She also danced for political leaders like Gamal Abdel Nasser and Marshal Josip Broz Tito.
European Tours and New Beginnings
In the early 1960s, Dalilah toured Europe with her Egyptian orchestra. She was very popular. Once, she was even asked to perform for famous film director Federico Fellini in Italy. This was for a private party related to his movie “La dolce vita.”
After her European tour, she went to Beirut, Lebanon. There, she performed at the Hotel Phoenicia and the Casino du Liban. It was in Beirut that she met her future husband, Paul King, a singer from London.
Moving to the United States
Due to conflict in the Middle East, Dalilah and Paul moved to Mexico for a short time. In 1974, Dalilah moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States. She opened her own dance studio and a boutique there.
For ten years, she taught American students real Egyptian oriental and folk dance. She also invited Mahmoud Reda, a famous Egyptian dancer, to the USA. Together, they held workshops across the country, teaching thousands of people.
Groundbreaking Dance Tours
Between 1977 and 1978, Dalilah worked with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. They created a special tour called “Belly dancers dream come true.” This was the first time American women could travel to Cairo to learn authentic oriental dance. They learned from famous dancers like Taheyya Kariokka, Soheir Zaki, and Samia Gamal. These tours were so popular that they were even shown on the American TV show ABC 20/20.
Retirement and Comeback
In 1984, Dalilah retired and moved back to her hometown of Madrid, Spain. She noticed that belly dance was becoming popular there after the time of Franco's rule.
In 2000, Dalilah returned to the dance world. She taught special classes, helped create dances for films, and coached other dancers. She also performed in a show called “Arabesque.” Sadly, she passed away suddenly in 2001.
Dalilah's Work in Film
Dalilah appeared in several films:
- Los ojos dejan huellas (Spain, 1952)
- Doña Francisquita (Spain, 1952)
- La alegre caravana (Spain, 1953)
- Alexander the Great (USA, 1955)
- Keyf Ansak (Egypt, 1957)
- Soutak (Lebanon, 1959)
- Juana la Loca (Spain, 2001)
Dalilah on Television
She also appeared on many television shows:
- Dalilah Show (Lebanon 1959)
- Shoo Shoo Show Special (Lebanon 1959)
- Caterina Valenti Show (Finland 1963)
- Siempre en Domingo (Mexico 1972)
- Mike Douglas Show (USA 1976)
- Jerry Lewis Telethon (USA 1977)
- ABC 20/20 Show (USA 1977)
- Mundo Mundial. Canal Gran Vía (Spain 2001)
- Tele5 Nosolomúsica (Spain 2001)
See also
In Spanish: Dalilah para niños
