Taheya - Carioca dies at 79

An Egyptian source said on Monday in Cairo that renowned Egyptian belly dancer Taheya Carioca died earlier in the day of a heart attack.

Carioca danced in most Arab states and won parts in several Egyptian films with famous Arab movie stars

Carioca married 14 times. The list of her men included renowned actor Rushdi Abaza, singer Muharram Fuad and an American who converted to Islam and took her to the US before she divorced him and returned to Egypt.

The real name of Carioca is Abla Muhammad Karim. She was named Carioca in connection to the Brazilian Samba dance, which she used to perform in her beginnings during the 1930s.

Though she had given up dancing some 20 years ago, she has always been proud of her profession.