Background:
Let's go back to the beginning. Born in the Druze Mountains of Syria, Madiha's mother was of the Awabdi family, originally a royal family in Syria. In the 1800s, the Atrish and Awabdi families were engaged in a deadly power struggle. When Madiha's grandfather, Halil Awabdi, the reigning prince, lost his life in that struggle, the family lost all their power and wealth. Her mother later married into a farming family. In memory of their heritage, both she and Madiha are entitled to retain the title of "Princess".

Princess Madiha is the youngest of 5 girls. Her interest in dancing was sparked at an early age when she and her family would go see movies starring dancers like Samia Gamal and Tahia Carioca.

Early History
Having taught herself to dance at 14 years old, her professional dance career started soon after learning the dance. Madiha had decided to become a dancer - but a girl of her age was expected to get married and raise a family. Instead, Madiha went to live with a married sister in Damascus. Her sister introduced her to a professional dancer, Nazha Abdu, who took Madiha to Halab, the second capital of Syria. There Madiha encountered further obstacles. Not only did she not have a license to dance, but when it was found out that she was only 14, Madiha was told to return home to her family. Not easily daunted, Madiha had papers falsified to prove she was 18.

Madiha traveled to Swaido with a girlfriend. While having breakfast in a restaurant, they overheard a man talking about a club that was looking for singers and dancers. Madiha went up to the man and said, "Excuse me, but my girlfriend is a dancer and I am a singer. We are interested in an audition." Neither of the girls were performers, but their bravado had earned them the chance to learn the art. They were offered 10 lira a night and on the job training.

Madiha and her friend were taken to Hoummos and auditioned for Fatma Akef, sister of the famous Naima Akef. When Madiha tried to sing, Fatma told her she'd never be a singer, but with her face and body, she was meant to be a dancer and promptly put her into a costume. Madiha and her girlfriend worked for 5 days with Fatma's theatre group, sharing a green and white costume. By this time, Madiha's family had tracked her down, and her fiancé literally dragged her out of the theatre and back to Damascus. With the help of some friends, Madiha escaped to Lebanon.

Upon arriving in Tripoli, Lebanon, Madiha discovered that 18 wasn't old enough to work. She had to go back to Damascus. Determined to escape her arranged marriage and become a dancer, she told her mother that her agent was, in fact, a doctor who needed a secretary to travel with him when he gave lectures throughout the Middle East.

Thinking the opportunity to work as a doctor's secretary was a great, Madiha's mother hugged and kissed the agent and signed the necessary papers. Her family thought she was going to Beirut, but her agent actually took her to Persia as a replacement for her idol, Samia Gamal, who had cancelled her engagement there. Madiha couldn't even walk correctly on stage, but she was young and beautiful. She was an instant success. From Persia, Madiha went on a tour to Pakistan and Calcutta, India, where she worked with mostly American bands.

For the next 16 years, she performed her art all around the world. She performed in Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Nepal, Europe, the United States and of course, throughout the Middle East. Her career included appearances dancing in international films.

At 16, Madiha went to Egypt. Her first job was in the Continental Hotel, where she was one of many dancers. After one week, Madiha was performing just before the finale, Hoda Shamsadeen. During her tour in Egypt, she worked at many other clubs including Sahara City by the pyramids. Madiha had become a star.

There's more to being a star than just being the best dancer.
Madiha likes to tell of the time when she was dancing at the Casino Abdeem in Egypt. At this point in her career, Madiha took less pay so that she would not have to sit and drink with customers unless they were families of her choice.

One night Tahia Carioca --whom Madiha calls the Mother of the Dance --was in the audience with a man who had tried to get Madiha to join him on several occasions, but was always refused. But Madiha could not refuse to join Tahia, who asked, "Why don't you sit with my friend? You think you are a star?" When Madiha replied that this was so, Tahia Carioca offered her this advice,"If you know how to respect yourself, you will act like a lady and will be treated as such."

From that meeting with Tahia Carioca, Madiha realized that a dancer can protect herself by her own behavior.

International Performer
When her stay in Egypt ended, Madiha went on a tour that took her to Pakistan, India, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Cololampore, Singapore, and finally to Damascus. By the time the tour had ended, Madiha was 21, and her family accepted and respected her as an established artist.

Still, Madiha wanted to come to America. That opportunity came when she was offered a concert tour with Dalal Sharnali. They toured various Arabic communities and ended with the Brass Rail, an American night club in Detroit.

She toured the throughout the Midwest and decided to return to Detroit, which has the largest Arab population in the United States - second largest in the world outside of the Middle East. There she worked at the original Cedars Club, the Greek club 1001 Nights, and the famous Mitch Housey's.

While in America, Princess Madiha fell in love and married. Dancing until her son was 2, she decided that family life was too important and required all of her time and energy.er ten years in retirement, Madiha decided to teach others the art she had learned during her travels.

Madiha Today
Today Madiha still lives in the suburban Detroit area teaching dance to a select group of serious students, many of whom work in Detroit's Greek and Arabic nightclubs. teaches each dancer the different styles and techniques she learned from working with the top dancers in the Middle East, including Tahia Carioca, Samia Gamal, Sohair Zaki, and Nagwa Fouad. Madiha also teaches her own unique style and steps. She has also produced a teaching video, called Belly Dancing with Princess Madiha, for beginning students and a soon to be released Advanced Instructional DVD with an accompanying book of instruction.

Madiha believes the dancer to be the expression of all the instruments.


Dancers must realize the melody, syncopation and words of melody. The music speaks to each person in many ways, and you can pick and choose each time what you want to express. Your feeling inside must be happy. You must like yourself. The feelings for dancing come from inside you. It is not necessary that you be born of the culture, only that you pay attention and listen. Find someone who is qualified to help you listen, think and interpret. Feelings take years to develop. No one is a 'Born Dancer.' I want people to respect this dance like ballet. It is an art. Even if a few are making it look cheap, many more are raising it to a higher level.



Madiha points out that even as other dance forms change and evolve, so must Middle Eastern dance. Many Arabic bands have added Western instruments such as the guitar, keyboard, and saxophones. This changes the tone and character of Arabic music while retaining its form, technique and integrity.

In the end, Princess Madiha says that if she had to do it all over again, she wouldn't change anything. She has no regrets. God has been very good to her both with her career and her beautiful family

tribes.tribe.net/vintagebd...9249d2fe41

I posted a few additional photos on the vintage belly dancing tribe.

I feel very lucky to have her as a mentor. This is the real deal. She teaches the music. And the music has such personal meaning for her. Alf Leyla was composed in her apartment. She has pictures of her on Farid El Atrache's balconey. But for the fact that she was terrified of her family finding out she was a belly dancer and killing her she would have had the starring role in Sherie El Hob, the movie that launched Nagwa Fouad to stardom with the song Olooloo. She sacrificed a LOT for the sake of her family. It's so sad in a way. Her family never appreciated her sacrifice as she was God forbid! A Belly Dancer! She's a much better dancer than anyone I've ever seen. I wish I was a 1/4 as good. And I think I'm pretty darn good!!!

Everytime we go see a dance show her students complain she's ruin them for other dancers. Ah well, she will never get the recognition she deserves but for all that she has an extremely loyal following from the few that have discovered her and the greatest respect in the Detroit/Arabic community as they know dancers trained by her are the best to be found.

As I told Samira in a pm, this may very well be her last year of teaching her annual workshop. We don't stay young forever, alas. So if interested calendar the second Saturday in Nov. and stay tuned for details.