ALEXANDRIA: Pictures featuring a 20-year-old Egyptian ballerina wearing a hijab as she performs on the streets of Alexandria have proved popular on social media.
Aya Magdy appears in photographs performing dance moves around the city and on its iconic Stanley Bridge while wearing a headscarf and donning a long-sleeved ballet dress.
Magdy, a law student at Alexandria University, says her aim is to showcase the beauty of her city by performing in front of its most famous sites and encourage tourists to visit.
When asked how people in the street react when seeing her, Magdy said: “They were surprised at first, but soon I began to see admiration in the way they looked at me as they see me perform this beautiful art,” she told the local Youm7 newspaper.
When the photos were posted on a public Facebook page, some people criticized her for dancing and wearing a hijab at the same time.
But Magdy said she wanted to break taboos about ballet dancing in Egypt, and promote it as a form of art.
The idea of taking to Egyptian streets and performing ballet began when the “Ballerinas of Cairo” were spotted posing and performing moves in front of Cairo’s architectural gems.
Magdy says she was inspired by them and wanted to do the same for her city.
See more photos from the shoot by Hussein Hossam / Fantasia Photography here.
Hijab-wearing ballerina performs on Alexandria streets to promote tourism
Hijab-wearing ballerina performs on Alexandria streets to promote tourism
The difference between European and Gulf weddings — from a photographer’s point of view
DUBAI: From her early career in northeast France to working across the Gulf and Europe, wedding photographer Maddy Christina has observed many contrasts between such events in different parts of the world.
Her early years as a photographer were defined by variety; she worked across fashion, family portraits and weddings simultaneously before recognizing how wedding photography brings multiple genres together in a single day.
“I actually fell into weddings by accident,” Christina told Arab News. “It blends every discipline at once — fashion for the couple session, sports for the reception, documentary work throughout the day, still life with details and jewelry.”
Christina’s connection to the Middle East began through Parisian clients who invited her to Dubai for a post-wedding session: “I instantly connected with the energy of the city,” she said.
A few years later, a wedding in Kuwait marked the start of her long-term relationship with the region.
Now working extensively across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Christina said weddings in the region required a shift in both perspective and technique.
“Working across the GCC has opened my mind in ways I didn’t expect,” she said, adding it felt like “resetting everything I thought I knew about weddings” — particularly compared to her experience in Europe.
She said there were clear distinctions between the two regions. “European weddings tend to be more demonstrative and expressive, while brides in the Gulf often place a deeper emphasis on tradition, family bonds and a sense of ceremony,” she said. “The emotional language is different, yet equally beautiful.”
From a technical standpoint, the contrast is just as pronounced: “In the south of France, I was used to shooting outdoors at sunset with couples already comfortable in front of the camera. Here, I often find myself in much smaller spaces, with no windows, artificial light and couples who may be more reserved.”
She added that adapting to these conditions pushed her to explore new ways of shaping light and expanded her creative approach.
While Christina is drawn to candid moments, like “guests laughing together, old friends reconnecting, a fleeting emotion passing across someone’s face,” posed pictures remain central to her work.
For Christina, the most meaningful aspect extends beyond the wedding day itself.
“It’s not the decor that makes a wedding unforgettable for me,” she said. “It’s the connection I build with the bride. That long-term bond is what feels truly magical.”
