Azza Sherif

Azza Sherif was an Egyptian dancer whose career became associated with the generation that followed the great stars of the Golden Era. She reportedly began dancing professionally around the age of eighteen and became visible in Egyptian entertainment during the 1970s. Sherif appeared in films while also building a reputation through live performance, where her grounded Egyptian movement and strong personality distinguished her from more theatrical performers. Later in life she became increasingly valued as a teacher, sharing an approach centred on improvisation, musicality and authentic Egyptian expression. International dancers who studied with her often highlighted the importance she placed on listening to the music rather than mechanically reproducing choreography. She died in 2019 and is remembered as an important link between classic Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and later generations of international students.