Mahmoud Reda facts for kids

Mahmoud Reda (Arabic: محمود رضا; 18 March 1930 – 10 July 2020) was a famous Egyptian dancer and choreographer. He is best known for starting the Reda Troupe, a very popular dance group. He was also an Olympic gymnast, representing his country in sports before becoming a dance legend.

Early Life and Dreams

Mahmoud Reda was born in Cairo, Egypt. He was one of ten children. His father was the main librarian at Cairo University. Mahmoud's older brother, Ali, was a dancer. This, along with movies starring dancers like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, made Mahmoud interested in dance.

Before becoming a dancer, Mahmoud was a gymnast. He even represented Egypt in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland. He studied political economics at Cairo University. However, his true passion was always dance. After graduating, he joined an Argentinian dance group and traveled around Europe.

While in Paris, Mahmoud decided he wanted to start his own dance group in Egypt. But he needed money first. So, he worked as an accountant for Royal Dutch Shell. He also joined the Heliolido Club in Cairo. There, he met Farida Fahmy, an Anglo-Egyptian dancer. She became his dance partner. After they performed in the Soviet Union in 1957, they decided to create a folk dancing group in Egypt with Mahmoud's brother, Ali Reda.

The Reda Troupe: A New Kind of Dance

In 1959, Mahmoud and Ali Reda, along with Farida Fahmy, started the Reda Troupe. This dance group was supported by the government. At first, it had only twelve dancers and twelve musicians. Mahmoud Reda created new dances that mixed traditional Egyptian folk styles with Western dance, like ballet.

Usually, dancing was not seen as a respected job in Cairo society. But because of Farida Fahmy's family connections, the Reda Troupe was accepted. Both men and women enjoyed watching their performances.

Becoming Famous

Even though the Reda Troupe was well-known in Cairo, it wasn't famous across all of Egypt at first. That changed in 1961. Mahmoud Reda and Farida Fahmy, along with the rest of the troupe, starred in a movie called Igazah nisf as-sinah. Mahmoud's brother, Ali Reda, directed the film. This movie made the Reda Troupe very popular with everyday Egyptians.

The group had more success with another film, Gharam fi al-karnak, in 1967. In 1970, they appeared in a third movie, Harami El-Waraqa.

Mahmoud Reda stopped being the main dancer of the troupe in 1972. But he kept creating new dances and directing the shows. By this time, the troupe had grown to one hundred and fifty people! This included dancers, musicians, and stage crew. Under Mahmoud's direction, the Reda Troupe traveled the world. They performed at famous places like Carnegie Hall in New York and in China. They went on five international tours while he was in charge. They even performed for many world leaders. In 1990, Mahmoud Reda retired as the director of the Reda Troupe.

Later Years and Legacy

After he retired, Mahmoud Reda continued to teach dance workshops. He taught in Egypt and in other countries. Some of his students became famous dancers themselves, such as Keti Sharif, Randa Kamel, Dina Talaat, and Mohamed Ghareb.

Personal Life

Mahmoud Reda married Nadeeda Fahmy, Farida Fahmy's older sister, in 1955. Nadeeda designed the costumes for the Reda Troupe. She passed away in 1960 from a heart condition. His second wife was a ballet dancer from Yugoslavia. They had a daughter named Shereen.

Mahmoud Reda died on 10 July 2020, when he was 90 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Mahmoud Reda para niños