The iconic Egyptian dancer and actress Sohair Zaki passed away on Saturday at the age of 81. Her passing followed a battle with severe dehydration and pulmonary complications that had recently necessitated her admission to intensive care.
Born in Mansoura on January 4, 1945, Zaki’s passion for dance ignited at the age of nine. Her journey took her from Mansoura to Alexandria and finally to Cairo, the heart of the Arab arts world, where she launched a career that would redefine Oriental dance.
A trailblazing career in cinema and dance
Zaki rose to become one of the brightest stars of Egypt’s Golden Age. She successfully bridged the gap between the stage and the silver screen, making her cinematic debut in the early 1960s with “Lel Nisaa Faqat” (For Women Only) in 1962. Her role in “Al Hasna wel Tabla” (The Belle and the Drum) in 1963 cemented her status as both a distinguished dancer and a talented actress. Her filmography includes beloved classics such as “Aaylet Zizi” (Zizi’s Family), “Ana we Howa we Heya” (I, He, and She), and “Al Ragel Elly Ba3 Al Shams” (The Man Who Sold the Sun).
The “Dancer of Kings” and the Om Kalthoum connection
Zaki earned the prestigious title Dancer of Kings and Presidents, having performed for world leaders including US President Richard Nixon, Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, and the Shah of Iran. She also famously performed at the wedding of the son of late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Notably, she was the first dancer to perform to the music of Om Kalthoum. While the former was initially skeptical of the idea, she was reportedly won over by Zaki’s refined and respectful interpretation of her masterpieces.
Retirement and legacy
At the height of her fame in the early 1990s, Zaki chose to retire following her marriage to cinematographer Mohamed Emara. Her final cinematic appearance was in the 1984 film “Ana Elly Estahel” (I Am the One Who Deserves It).
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