A once-prominent Egyptian belly dancer said she has decided to stop dancing, saying Islamists have destroyed art and creativity in Egypt.
“Artists are sitting at home because Islamists destroyed art and creativity,” 70-year-old Nagwa Fouad told Al-Masry Al-Youm. “Perhaps I should look for work in Turkey.”
She said production for her new television series has stopped because of lack of funding.
“Production houses are going bankrupt,” she said. “And people only watch the news on the daily clashes.”
Fouad’s fame as a belly dancer peaked from the 1970s to mid-1980s, when she starred in many movies. But her prominence has diminished since the 1990s.
Her TV series, “Al-Haram wal Halal,” is written and directed by Ahmed al-Nahhas, and stars actress Poussy, Samiha Ayoub, Mahmoud Qabil and Bassem Samra. It is produced by Sout al-Qahira.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
