Egyptian culture ministry leaders are working on organising a performance in celebration of the work of pioneer folkloric dancer Mahmoud Reda, the founder of Egypt’s Reda Troupe, who died Friday at the age of 89.

Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem met with director Khaled Galal, head of the Culture Production Sector at the ministry, and professor Mahmoud Salah, head of the Reda Troupe, to discuss details of the honour ceremony planned to be held at the Balloon Theatre.

“The late Mahmoud Reda is considered among folkloric arts legends who were able to change society's perspectives towards these arts, throughout his dance designs that became a part of Egyptian heritage," Abdel-Dayem stated, praising Reda who was celebrated by the ministry last December on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of his popular troupe.

(Photo: Al-Ahram)

Born in 1931, Reda, who participated as an athlete in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, founded Reda Troupe in 1959, finding wide success that led to official adoption by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture in 1961, with the troupe performing in all over the country and in many important venues abroad.

Reda Troupe collaborated with numerous musicians and starred in many films like Agazet Nos Al-Sanah in 1961, directed by his brother Ali Reda, in addition to other films like Gharam fi Al-Karnak in 1967 and Harami El-Waraqa in 1970.

Mahmoud Reda worked with the troupe until he retired in 1990, although he continued to supervise it artistically.

Egypt resumed public culture activities last weekend as part of phase one of the country's cautious reopening following the Covid-19 lockdown, with all events held under strict measures that include social distancing, obligatory face masks, and sanitising.

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