My grandmother would lead ‘STAMBALI’ rituals (the
equivalent of Zar, in Egypt - American people are more
familiar with this word, I think), again for the family, friends,
neighbors, and I would hide to see this ritual of trance
dance. That’s probably why I always considered myself a
DANCER. I didn’t choose to dance. It is the dance who
chose me!
Why do you focus on dance in the theatre instead of the
usual performance venues of nightclubs and restaurants?
What ignited your passion for dance and theatre?
Says Leila, “After my secondary schooling, my parents
sent me to London to study Comparative Literature
English and Italian. One day, I went to the theater to see
a play (acting, dancing, and singing) by the Zulu Theater
denouncing apartheid in South Africa and for the liberation
of Nelson Mandela. I was struck by this strong and political
message against apartheid!!!”
Leila goes on to say, “I was familiar with theater, going to
see ‘classical’ European plays from Molière, Shakespeare…
But to see a political play was new to me. I was entranced,
found it magical and wondered how one could “educate”
and send a message to an audience through the theatre! So I
asked permission to come to ‘open rehearsals’ of this theater
group. After a while, the director asked me if wanted to be
part of this theater group and I immediately answered YES!
We were a thespian group of more than 20 actors from 12
different nationalities (Europeans and Africans fighting for
a better world). I had no idea how to place my voice, to act,
dance, and sing on stage. And the first time I was on stage, I
totally fell in love with THEATER WORK. And I decided
that I would dedicate my life to my new-born passion. They
could have me cleaning, changing the bulbs, whatever… but
I had to be in a theater. The Zulu theater was present in
three cities: London, Paris, and Berlin. So, I decided to join
the group in Paris while continuing my studies.”
Leila shares, “Because many people liked my dance, I
decided to write a choreographic piece of approximately
20 minutes in order to audition for a festival called: Dance
Beyond Frontiers where choreographers and dancers were
10
The Belly Dance Chronicles
October 2015