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Famous Egyptian Ballerina Magda Saleh Dies at 78
Famous Egyptian Ballerina Magda Saleh Dies at 78
Sputnik Africa
She was one of the most famous ballerinas in North Africa and the Middle East, and the first Egyptian ballerina to walk the boards of the Bolshoi Theater in... 12.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-12T17:24+0200
2023-06-12T17:24+0200
2023-08-05T12:18+0200
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The world of ballet is in mourning. The famous Egyptian ballerina Magda Saleh died on Sunday in Cairo at the age of 78, announced Director of the Cairo Opera Khaled Dagher.The Egyptian Ministry of Culture has also expressed its deepest condolences on the death of the first Egyptian ballerina and the first director of the Egyptian Opera House.An Egyptian in RussiaMagda Saleh's story is closely linked to Russia, widely viewed as "the land of ballet". In 1957, the young dancer was spotted in Alexandria by the famous choreographer Igor Moiseyev. He was impressed by her talent and recommended that she audition for a place at Moscow's famous Bolshoi Theater.Magda Saleh followed this advice a year later. The young dancer won a scholarship to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, alongside five other students. In 1965, she returned from Russia with her diploma in hand and presented the first ballet produced by the Cairo Opera Company, at the time one of the first classical ballet companies in Africa and the Arab world.The artist, who was born to a Scottish mother and an Egyptian father, became famous for performing the role of Giselle, which she performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater and later on the stage of the Egyptian Opera House.Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was even present at this historic performance of The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, written by Russian composer Boris Asafyev in 1934. The dancers were all awarded the National Order of Merit. In the role of Maria, a young Polish woman kidnapped by a Tartar khan, Magda Saleh became Egypt's first prima ballerina.She was then invited back to Russia, where she performed at both the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky, the country's two most famous theaters. She eventually settled in New York before returning to Egypt to help the country's burgeoning ballet scene. In particular, she headed the Ballet Institute before being appointed president of the new Cairo Opera, which opened in 1988.
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north africa, egypt, death, middle east, art
Famous Egyptian Ballerina Magda Saleh Dies at 78
17:24 12.06.2023 (Updated: 12:18 05.08.2023) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
She was one of the most famous ballerinas in North Africa and the Middle East, and the first Egyptian ballerina to walk the boards of the Bolshoi Theater in the center of the Russian capital, Moscow.
The world of ballet is in mourning. The famous Egyptian ballerina Magda Saleh died on Sunday in Cairo at the age of 78, announced Director of the Cairo Opera Khaled Dagher.
"We have lost a great glory, one of our most important artistic personalities. Her contributions to the arts were numerous and varied, and she represented the country in many international forums, in addition to enriching local cultural life," Daghere told local media.
The Egyptian Ministry of Culture has also expressed its deepest condolences on the death of the first Egyptian
ballerina and the first director of the Egyptian Opera House.
Magda Saleh's story is closely linked to Russia, widely viewed as "the land of ballet". In 1957, the young dancer was spotted in Alexandria by the famous choreographer Igor Moiseyev. He was impressed by her talent and recommended that she audition for a place at Moscow's famous Bolshoi Theater.
Magda Saleh followed this advice a year later. The young dancer won a scholarship to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, alongside five other students. In 1965, she returned from Russia with her diploma in hand and presented the first ballet produced by the Cairo Opera Company, at the time one of the first classical ballet companies in Africa and the Arab world.
The artist, who was born to a Scottish mother and an Egyptian father, became famous for
performing the role of Giselle, which she performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater and later on the stage of the Egyptian Opera House.
"In 1966, we, the five graduates of the Bolshoi, together with the students of the Higher Institute, presented for the first time in the history of Egypt a ballet in four acts, The Fountain of Bakhchisarai," the ballerina told Vogue magazine in 2018.
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was even present at this historic
performance of The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, written by Russian composer Boris Asafyev in 1934. The dancers were all awarded the National Order of Merit. In the role of Maria, a young Polish woman kidnapped by a Tartar khan, Magda Saleh became Egypt's first prima ballerina.
She was then invited back to Russia, where she performed at both the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky, the country's two most famous theaters.
She eventually settled in New York before returning to Egypt to help the country's burgeoning ballet scene. In particular, she headed the Ballet Institute before being appointed president of the new Cairo Opera, which opened in 1988.
