Among the rare Oriental dance shows one can see on Parisian stages are those of Leila Haddad of a quality such that they would not spoil any theatre worthy of this name. "Zikrayat", a tribute to the great Egyptian singer Oum Kalsoum, is a generous succession of danced scenes where you recognize the spirit and the aesthetics of Raqs-al-Sharqi: costumes, jewellery, quivering of veils, undulations of bellies and arms to the sound of unctuous music. The seven dancers, pink, green, yellow or blue sparkles appearing sometimes in line, sometimes in diagonals, have the grace of lively flowers. But you also recognize Leila Haddad in a short and beautiful passage where body movements, simplified and relieved from their ornaments give themselves over to their total purity. Striking contrast! As for Leila’s many fans, each receives his share of pleasure when she radiates in long solos punctuated with joyous sounds from the audience. It is cheerfulness that reigned the whole evening.

Dominique Pillette