Samia Gamal .. Egyptian Belly Dancer

Samia Gamal was born 1924 as Zainab Ibrahim Mahfuz in Wana, a little egyptian town. Soon after her birth the family move into Cairo to live near the famous Khan el-Khalili basar. When Zainab met the Syrian-Lebanese (Lebanon was at that time still part of Syria) founder of modern Oriental dance, Badia Masabni, her life took a turn. Baadia Masabni accepted Zainab in her dance company and gave her the artist name Samia Gamal...

Samia Jamal is considerd as the second after Tahieah Karryoka. Samia made Belly dance more expressive and toke it to a more respectable status. Samia Jamal worked under Badi'a Masabni when Tahieah Karryoka was the star of the group.

Samia married the rich american Texas oil millionaire Sheppard King, who converted to islam. It boosted the egyptian dancer her popularity as she hit frequently the news but their marriage didn't last long. In 1958 Samya Gamal married Roshdy Abaza, one of the most famous Arab Egyptian (probably of mixed Egyptian-Italian descent) actors with whom Samia starred in a number of movies as well. Funny enough Abaza plays in "Houwa oua al Nessaa" of 1966 the role of a man, unhappy with his marriage, who falls in love with a belly dancer whilst directing a new theatrical play. (Also starring Hend Rostom). She died in december 1st, 1994 in Cairo.