SuSu Abdo,
Fineline photography
Tony Vitella, Windsor, ON
Susu Abdo
Friday August 6, 2010 was the pinnacle of my dance career so far. I had the honour of performing for non other than Madame Fifi Abdo of Egypt. Madame Abdo came to Toronto to teach two workshops along with Master Khaled Mahmoud of Egypt/England. Many thanks to Joharah from Bellyup in Oakville and Dee Dee Asad of Dallas, Texas who organized this event. Madame Abdo is my dance namesake. People often ask me why I took the dance name Susu Abdo? It was bestowed upon me by my fellow dancers early in my career. The first solo I ever performed was called Laeytak. It came from the Fifi Abdo Middle Eastern Nights album. I had been called Susu all my life by family members. So the two were married and I became Susu Abdo. I have admired Madame Abdo's work for years. So it was truly an honour and very humbling to dance for a star whose name you are using. Madame Abdo greeted me as I took the stage with a huge SUSU! I responded FIFI and clutched my heart. The crowd roared. I performed with the most joy I have felt in years. It was surreal . Madame Abdo informed me that she really liked the piece I performed. I was relieved, since I don't think I had ever been so nervous to perform in my life. Thanks again to Joharah and Dee Dee for making one of my dreams come true. Much love to you Madame Abdo and Master Khaled. You are inspiring.
Finishing this dance season with the hit show Sahara held May 15,2010 at the Kiwanis Theatre in Chatham Ontario. Susu was co-artistic director along with her partner Megan Robbins of Windsor, Ontario. The show featured a cast of 35 dancers from the Windsor/Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia/Lambton areas.
In March of 2009 Susu Abdo was awarded one of the 5 choreographers positions for the C-K Dances event this summer!!!! Submissions were based on the choreographers body of work, experience and style of dance. Troupe Abdo will be presenting an original choreograhy by Susu Abdo at this event. Susu Abdo was also co -artistic director for the May 3 2008 show Behind the Veil. This show was held at the Chatham Kent Cultural Centre/Kiwanis Theatre. This amazing show was done as a fundraiser for the Kwianis Theatre and the Brain Injury Association of Chatham - Kent .Behind the Veil had a cast of over 40 beautiful dancers from the Windsor/Essex and Chatham-Kent communities. SuSu also danced at the Dark Side Studio's show with the Legendary Suhaila Salimpour. The show featured dancers in the show from Canada and the US, sharing the stage with Miss Salimpour was an honour. The show took place Friday Nov 16, 2007 at the Jane Mallett Theatre( St Lawerence Centre).Toronto Ontario. Thanks for the awesome evening. Susu also hosted the "Hips Oh My Gala" starring Princess Farhana in Chatham June 30,2007. She has also been named as cast member of Dikenga Films "Underbelly" that had footage shot in Chatham, Ontario during the Hips Oh My conference and show. http://www.dikenga.com/films/underbelly/cast/ As well,The Windsor Symphony Orchestra's annual Gala "Taste of the Orient",May 5,2007 and The Windsor Feminist Theatre Group's Fundraising evening at the Phog Lounge in Windsor, Ontario April 26, 2007. Also "Egyptian Nights” performed here at the Kiwanis Theatre in Chatham. In March 2006 as a joint fundraising venture for the Kiwanis Theatre Cat walk project. She has also appeared live at the William Street Café during one of the café’s many artist centered evenings. Belly dancing throughout the region at various events and functions for the last few years this instructor brings a genuine love of the dance and its history in a professionally taught format. Students will be able to understand the rationale of the library of movements and execute them in choreography to authentic Middle Eastern Music. SuSu offers a relaxed, friendly and welcoming class atmosphere and looks forward to meeting you soon. SuSu has studied Egyptian style belly dance made popular in Ontario by Toronto's Yasmina Ramsy. Yasmina has had a large following over the years and her style has flourished due to her many devoted students who have now become teachers throughout the region. She has also studied belly dance with : Yasmina Ramzy, Toronto. Krista Boon, Windsor, ON. Ava Fleming, Pheonix, Arizona USA. Princess Farhana, Hollywood, California. Flamenco Basics with Angela Del Sol, Esmerelda Enrique Spanish Dance, Toronto,ON, Prince Andrew,Hollywood California. Aziza,Montreal Canada & Portland Oregon USA, Megan Robbins, Windsor ON Suhaila Salimpor,California USA Veena of the Belly Twins, California USA Audra Simmons, Toronto, ON Aida Nour, Cairo Egypt Hannan Sultan, Raliegh/Durham and Toronto, Fatheim of California Introduction to Flamenco, Cinta Sebastian, London,ON, Mohamed Shahin, Cairo, Valizan, Hamilton,ON Madame Fifi Abdo, Egypt and Khaled Mahmoud, Egypt.
