Fifi Abdou
Egypt's most celebrated belly dancer

Fifi has a beautiful face that belies her age. Her eyes are very sparkly and the dark, liquid brown of autumn leaves beneath water. She has strong features, with only a touch of crow's feet when she laughs. She sashays round the stage, acknowledging and smiling at everyone with enthusiasm for her dance. She gives attention to each table at the stage side, doing those wonderful, sexy breaks that come right down, so slowly and with such feeling that it almost breaks your heart.

There are the wonderfully powerful shimmies, the travelling hip dumps that are so exquisite you want to bottle them, and some breathtaking turns and spins.

Anybody who has ever seen Fifi work the stick, will know how awesome she is with this simple prop. She wields it like a man, and you can actually hear the air displacement as she spins it.

Fifi's shimmies are unique in that they seem to travel all the way through her abdomen, way up to her breasts and beyond. Indeed, her whole face shakes with the effort. Fifi is often criticised for her "limited" repertoire of movements.

What one has to bear in mind is that some of the most beautiful poetry is only four lines long. She takes the time to converse with her audience, and speaks a little English.

Fifi abdou, now in her fifties, is one of the greatest Egyptian dancers of our times. Her sassy style, which flaunts convention and has often landed her in trouble with the muslim authorities, is unique to her.

Four times married fifi was still dancing at 5 star hotels in cairo, and has been in her own play, honey and cream.

Fifi was set to retire in 2001 with plans to release a series of videos of her work over the years.