Mahmoud Reda graduated from
the Faculty of Commerce at Cairo University in1954. He was
raised in an Egyptian family that encouraged the pursuit of
both sport activities and artistic endeavors. During his years
at university, he competed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki,
and received the gold medal in free exercises in The Pan Arab
Sports Championship in 1950 His sport activities were
accompanied by an increasing love for dance. He realized that
Egypt had a rich wealth of cultural heritage that needed to be
presented on stage in a dance form.
Mahmoud Reda is the pioneer of theatre dance in Egypt. In 1959
he founded the world renowned Reda Troupe. By the mid 60s the
troupe had over 150 members including, dancers, musicians, and
technicians. As the soloist, choreographer, and artistic
director, he was instrumental in creating a legitimate
theatrical dance genre that embraced many styles. He has
choreographed more than 300 dances, supervising all aspects of
their presentation on stage. He has also choreographed dances
for many Egyptian feature films, and has stared in three
musicals directed by his late brother Ali Reda, two of which
are major productions and are regarded as mile stones in the
history of Egyptian cinema.
Together
with the troupe he has traveled to more than 60 countries,
performing in prestigious theaters such as the Royal Albert
Hall in London, The Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New
York and Stanislavski in Moscow. He has presented numerous
command performances, and has received prizes and awards in
international folk dance festivals.
Mahmoud Reda was decorated by President Nasser in 1967 with
the order of Arts and Sciences for services rendered to the
state, in 1965 by King Hussien of Jordan with The Star of
Jordan and in1973 by President Bourguiba of Tunisia
Mahmoud Reda has also choreographed dances for many Egyptian
feature films, and has stared in three musicals directed by
his late brother Ali Reda, two of which are major productions
and are regarded as mile stones in the history of Egyptian
cinema.
Mahmoud
Reda is a prime mover. Prior to the founding of The Reda
Troupe, there were no professional theater dancers in Egypt.
He devised a method that gave structure and form to teaching
dance, as well as enhance the skills and heighten the artistic
level of his dancers. This method has influenced generations
of Egyptian teachers both at home and abroad.
Since the late 1980, he
has traveled extensively, giving lectures and workshops
throughout Europe, the Far East, the United State and South
America. Mahmoud Reda is truly worthy of the title the
Godfather of dance in Egypt.
The World Dances In Bibliotheca
Alexandrina
65 dancers
from
Egypt /Finland / France / Italy
/ Spain and Switzerland
presented 23 from the most
emblematic performances designed by Mahmoud Reda.
I
ntroduced from 1-3
July, 2007 on the great hall in front of more than 4500
audiences in Alexandria – Egypt.
