Sahra then moved to the USA and created "Ya Amar! Dance Company" producing Dance Theatre concerts. The Video line of LYP includes the award-winning "Al Dunia" concert video. We look forward to many more dynamic live Show Videos. Videos

Sahra also looks forward to a growing line of Instructional Videos.Whether audio or visual, all LYP products are created and recorded with the Dancer in mind.

The Layali Yasmine Story

In 1989 Sahra, a Middle Eastern dancer from the Los Angeles area, traveled to Egypt to research Raqs Sharqi, Folkloric Dance and the Zeffah Ritual in preparation for her Master's thesis. She stayed for 6 years in the longest continuous contract for a non-Egyptian in a Cairo 5-star hotel. www.SahraSaeeda.com

Layali Yasmine Productions is formed

When Sahra returned for her once a year 3-week vacation, she was surprised to discover that LA dancers and audiences thought she had retired from performing.
Since her style had changed, many dancers seemed to be interested in seeing what she was doing in Cairo. Layali Yasmine Productions was formed originally to carry that first video, "Sahra - Direct from Cairo". Videos

Three Videos cover Sahra’s over 1600 shows in Cairo: videos

* “Sahra - Direct from Cairo” Sahra’s 1st Cairo ShowVideo (1999)

* “Ahlan, Ahlan” ("Welcome, welcome") Cairo Show #2 (1993)

* “Sahra Saeeda” Cairo Show #3 (1995)

A Change in Presentation Format - Including Introductions from Historic Points of Interest

Many US dancers asked about to the origins, lyrics and meaning of the dances on "Sahra - Direct from Cairo". So, Sahra included introductions, folkloric information and explanation on the next two videos.
She also felt it would be fun and informational to film each of these dance introductions from a different historical point of interest in Cairo.
In "Ahlan, Ahlan" she also includes a donkey cart ride! And in "Sahra Saeeda" you learn how a traditional tarboush (fez) is made.

Sahra and her production base returns to the USA

In 1995 Sahra returned to the USA as the base for her international performance and teaching tours. There, she formed Ya Amar! Middle Eastern Dance Company. www.YaAmar.com

* “Al Dunia: Sahra & Ya Amar! Dance Company Live in Concert”

"Al Dunia" ("The World") was presented in July 1999 in Hollywood and Brea, California. The video received the Giza Academy Music and Legends of Dance Award - “Best Troupe Video” 2000.

* “Instructional Video Volume 1 - Arms and Torso” (1997) 95 min. is appropriate for teachers, performers, students of all levels.

Music from Cairo; made for dancing

“Sahra Saeeda” and then “Music for Egyptian Dance” were studio recordings of the music Sahra used in her Cairo shows, played by her musicians under the musical direction of Ashraf Zakaria.
Each selection has been performance-tested, played by musicians who's careers are based on knowing how to make dancers dance their best. Music

Each CD has a wide range of musical styles, such as those that make up a balanced Cairo show:
Each CD, as in each of her Cairo shows, starts with full Orientale musical piece especially arranged and written for Sahra. Mirroring her love of constantly changing rhythm, tempo, and mood, these musical selections showcase a repertoire of music, therefore showcasing your repertoire of movement.
Each CD also contains Orientale numbers, an Olm Kulsum selection, Saidi folkloric music, and drum solo, as well as other specialty numbers.

In 1997, Ashraf Zakaria returned to Cairo to record "Layali Zaman" ("Nights of the Past"), remembering with nostalgia the beautiful years of performing nightly in Cairo. This CD also includes the variety mentioned before, also with full orchestration and Cairo's best musicians.

* “Sahra Saeeda” (1994)

* “Music for Egyptian Dance” (1996)

* “Layali Zaman” (“Nights of the Past”) (1998)