Daughter of The East : A LAYMOUN Night

Brought DALIDA's story to the Stage

On July 10, Laymoun hosted Daughter of the East – A Tribute to Dalida at the University of Ottawa’s UCU Théâtre des Anciens, bringing together cinema, live orchestral music, and community for an elegant celebration of one of the most iconic voices of the 20th century.

From the moment the doors opened, the evening carried a cinematic atmosphere. Guests gathered in a theatre transformed by warm lighting, timeless music, and the anticipation of rediscovering an artist whose story crossed countries, languages, and generations.

The evening featured a special film screening exploring Dalida’s extraordinary life and legacy. Born in Cairo to an Italian family, celebrated in France, and remembered throughout the Arab world, Dalida belonged to many cultures at once. Her journey reflected themes of identity, reinvention, memory, and the experience of living between different worlds.

Accompanying the screening was a live orchestra, bringing Dalida’s music to life with new depth and emotion. The combination of cinema and live performance made the evening feel immersive, allowing the audience to experience her story through both image and sound. Familiar melodies filled the theatre with nostalgia, while the orchestral arrangements reminded everyone why her music continues to resonate decades later.

One of the most meaningful parts of the evening was seeing different generations come together through Dalida’s legacy. For some guests, her music carried memories of childhood, family gatherings, and songs passed down through their homes. For others, the event offered an introduction to an artist whose influence extended far beyond any single country or language.

Daughter of the East was more than a film screening or musical tribute. It was a celebration of an artist who connected Cairo, Italy, France, and the wider Arab world through her voice. Her story showed how art can travel across borders while continuing to hold personal meaning for people from many different backgrounds.

At a time when identity is often placed into simple categories, Dalida’s legacy offers something more complex and beautiful. She represented the possibility of belonging to several places at once, carrying different cultures without having to choose between them. Through cinema and music, the evening honoured that legacy and the generations who continue to keep it alive.

For Laymoun, Daughter of the East represented another important step in creating cultural experiences that feel thoughtful, polished, and emotionally meaningful. Following evenings of live Arabic music, dance, and tributes to legendary artists, this event expanded the Laymoun experience by bringing cinema and orchestra together on one stage.

To everyone who attended, performed, supported, shared the event, purchased a ticket, or believed in the vision: thank you. You helped transform Daughter of the East from a tribute into a shared cultural memory.

Dalida may have belonged to many places, but for one unforgettable evening in Ottawa, her music brought everyone into the same room.

This was more than a tribute. It was a celebration of a daughter of the East whose voice continues to reach the world.