Hmmm...that's a tough one for me since I can only tell you who are my favorite Egyptian dancers of all time. I haven't taken instruction from ALL the great teachers that may be 'out there somewhere'. I can only tell you about those I have taken classes with and of these I feel that the most "masterful" were: Raqia Hassan, Sahra Saeeda, Ibrahim Farrah [Gawd this man really inspired me!] and then there's Jillina [who I've only studied via instructional DVDs]. I also think that Keti Sharif and Dahlena are great teachers too. I'm sure that there may be quite a few instructors 'out there somewhere' who are true masters of this dance but who aren't very well known {{{come out, come out, wherever you are!}}}

"You'd think with all the people claiming to have been in the Reda Troupe that almost every teacher in Egypt had been a member."
heehee

Since you're a guy, definitely Yousry... but you gotta check out Shareen for awesome techniques. I think her movements would be really adaptable for you compared w/someone like Sahra, who is sooooo feminine. Not that Shareen isn't, but you know what I mean?

Raqia Hassan
Aida Nour
Mona El Said
Dina
Dr. Mo Geddawi
Lubna
Magdy El Leisy
Farida Fahmy
Faten Salama
Shareen El Safy
Sahra Saeeda
Morocco
Beata & Horacio Cifuentes
Yasmina Ramzy

Hmmmm.....There are master dancers and master teachers. The master dancer list is VERY long. The master teacher list not so big for me. To me a master teacher has to be someone who can really convey the essence of a move (verbally or through touch). I mean someone like Lucy can dance your pants off but her teaching skills are not so refined. Also, I think master teachers have to appropriately teach to the levels in a class or workshop. They should teach combos and movements that challenge but don't put you on a strong dose of pain killers the next day. They should be able to effectively breakdown a move or combo in many ways, regardless of language barriers. They should be be accurate with their information on the art form. Here's the kicker for me: no matter how much they teach the same routine they still show the same passion for it as they day it was created. How many workshops have you attended where the instructor was so bored with their stuff? A master teacher is infectious with their passion for their art. With so many people jumping into the belly dance industry that makes it tricky. Based on classes/worshops I've attended my picks for master teachers are: Aida Nour, Hadia of Montreal, Zahra Zuhair, Nashwa in KY, Keti Sharif, Liza LaLeeza, Yoursy, Sahra Seeda, Ava Fleming, Yasmina Ramzy. I might add Fifi after taking her workshop in Dallas. As far as the Reda troupe. You might be right, Valizan. Most dancers I meet in Egypt at some point danced there or the competing troupe. It's really the only game in town unless you are lucky to make it on your own.
Kisses, Zahrah

Do they have to be Egyptian? Or do you mean Egyptian style? What about other styles of dance or dancers from other countries, or are you just not interested in those?

Egyptian:
Mahmoud Reda
Faridah Fahmy
Raqia Hassan
Aida Nour
Lubna Emam
The founder of the Kaoumayya troupe (dont know his/her name)
Yousri Sharif
Momo Kadous
Fifi Abdou
Nagwa Fouad
Samia Gamaal
Taheya Cariocca
---> Dina

Lebanese:
Nadia Gamal

American Cabaret:
Anaheed
Judeen
Delilah
Alexandra King
Jeneanie Rathor
Suhaila Salimpour
Who ever the instructor behind Aziza, Nadira, Magidah etc from the NW coast of the US is... I dont know her name but the dancers coming out of there have an identical technical quality/concept/movement pattern that could only be caused by 1 teacher. So, whoever you are from the NW that would be around 29-again and known for your backbends, won the bellydancer of the year competition in 1984 or 85 and you used to work as a concrete finisher - come out of the dark and let us know your name.

American Tribal Style (ATS):
Jamilah Salimpour
Carolina Nericcio

American Tribal Fusion (ATF):
Jill Parker
Heather Stants
Rachel Brice

Turkish:
Sema Yldiz
Nesrin Topkapi
Asena

Now you may ask why I list so few names....the rest are students of these dancers or have been influenced by them in one way or another....so, these are the barebones list I would consider masters.

DaVid