Benat Al Medina
Sara's Benat Al Medina are a group of women who study and perform North African, Egyptian and Gulf dance styles both in London and/or their country of origin (They continue to work/study in London since Sara moved to Egypt). In an attempt to highlight the way in which Egyptian dance has been 'institutionalised' by various Western 'experts' their approach to 'technique' is individualised - a celebration of self, a love of dance, and dedication to enjoyment.
"This was an Arabic evening, with Arabic songs and music, but it was
wonderful that there was such a varied audience for it - all ages and
ethnicities... The ARab men were not sitting on their seats but on
their kness for the dancers with the rest of the audience egging them
on..."
Hassan Da'oud's review of Benat al Medina's 1998 Chats Palace show in
'Al Hayat'