Washintunes: 2007/11

2007/11/22

Michael Kaiser & Ramallah's Al-Kasaba

Michael Kaiser and George Ibrahim in front of Al-Kasaba, photo by Ilan Mizrahi for The Washington Post

Michael Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and cultural ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, has recently returned from the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Michael Kaiser at Al-Kasaba, photo by Ilan Mizrahi for The Washington Post

There, The Washington Post reports (Thursday, November 22, 2007; C01), he met with George Ibrahim, director of Al-Kasaba Theater and Cinematheque. Then, he conducted "individual assessment sessions" with nearly everyone associated with Al-Kasaba -- 45 minutes each person.

One result, says The Post: "The Kennedy Center and Al-Kasaba will co-produce a work for young people and the theater will be part of the Arab Festival in two years. Kaiser will consult with Ibrahim, especially on the fundraising."

[Disclaimer: this website has had a hyperlink in advance of this article and independently of the Kennedy Center's activities to Al-Kasaba's fundraising page.]

Press:
Arts Journal
BroadwayStars
Weeden's Art Watch

2007/11/18

Georgian State Dance Company (2)

The Georgian State Dance Company storms the stage with equal parts enthusiasm and virtuosity in a non-stop kaleidoscope of whirling, leaping, spinning, and gliding bodies, leaving audiences and critics awestruck.

This renowned company performs regional, court, and social dances reflecting various aspects of Georgian life. Fierce gymnastic male warriors demonstrate their impressive acrobatic skills in dramatic war dances while exquisitely costumed women glide on imperceptible footsteps across the stage. And then, performing at break-neck speeds, the men spin high in mid-air, compete in elaborate swordplay, dance completely unsupported on toes alone, and defy gravity by balancing on one another’s shoulders.

Tickets:
$46, $38, $23, available online or call (703) 993-2787

November 18, 2007 (Sunday) @ 4:00 PM at George Mason University's Center for the Arts

2007/11/17

Georgian State Dance Company (1)

The Georgian State Dance Company storms the stage with equal parts enthusiasm and virtuosity in a non-stop kaleidoscope of whirling, leaping, spinning, and gliding bodies, leaving audiences and critics awestruck.

This renowned company performs regional, court, and social dances reflecting various aspects of Georgian life. Fierce gymnastic male warriors demonstrate their impressive acrobatic skills in dramatic war dances while exquisitely costumed women glide on imperceptible footsteps across the stage. And then, performing at break-neck speeds, the men spin high in mid-air, compete in elaborate swordplay, dance completely unsupported on toes alone, and defy gravity by balancing on one another’s shoulders.

Tickets:
$46, $38, $23, available online or call (703) 993-2787

November 17, 2007 (Saturday) @ 8:00 PM at George Mason University's Center for the Arts

Gul-e-Bakawali

A collaborative production by Asha Vattikuti, Silk Road Dance Company, and Lori Clark, with choreographers Asha Vattikuti, Laurel Victoria Gray and Lori Clark comes together to perform the love story of Prince Taj and the Fairy Princess Bakawali, based on a Masnavi poem by Pundit Daya Shankar Naseem, re-told as dance drama in Kathak, Persian, and Egyptian dance styles.

Thanks:
Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division

Tickets:
$15, available online at ideadancers.org or call (703) 532-5479

November 17, 2007 (Saturday) @ 6:00 P.M. at the Thomas Jefferson Theater (120 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington VA)

Silk Road Dance Company

Through compelling music, breathtaking costuming and memorable choreography, the Silk Road Dance Company opens a door to a world that has long remained mysterious to the West.

November 14, 2007 (Wednesday) @ 12:00 P.M. at the Harman Center for the Arts

2007/11/13

Moroccan-Palestinian "Cross-Cultural Grooves"

What happens when you place a Moroccan composer and guitarist amidst a group of Palestinian musicians?

Cross-cultural grooves.

Performance

Performers:

Joseph Duqmaq: saxophone
Tarik Hilal: guitar
John-Robert Handal: darbouka
Wissam Murad: oud, piano, vocals
Basel Zayed: oud, vocals

Press:
Washington Post
Cultural Tourism DC

November 13, 2007 (Tuesday) @ 6:00 PM on the Millennium Stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

2007/11/12

Three Dancers (with Nejla Yatkin): The Essence of Dance

Three Dancers: The Essence of Dance

Jonathan G. Willen, Meera Wolfe and Mason/Rhynes Productions present the Washington, DC premier of Three Dancers in a program entitled The Essence of Dance. This program offers the Washington community the opportunity to experience the movement of three locally based, nationally know dancers - Nejla Yatkin, Tehreema Mitha and Gesel Mason

Nejla Yatkin was born and raised in Berlin, Germany where she graduated from Die Etage Performing Arts Academy. She is currently based in Washington, D.C. pursuing her solo career, dancing, choreographing, and giving workshops at arts festivals. She is also a Professor of Dance at the University of Maryland-College Park. Nejla’s work has been commissioned and presented at Dance Place (DC), Lincoln Center (NY), The Kennedy Center (DC), and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJ), among other locales. Nejla is in the process of synthesizing the diverse techniques that she has been exposed to throughout her life into her own style of dance, entitled MOZAIK. She is constructing the technique out of the full mosaic of dance styles available within the world’s cultures, combining them into a unified whole.

Videos:
Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

November 12, 2007 (Monday) @ 8:00 P.M. at the Atlas Performing Arts Theater, 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002

2007/11/10

Gaida at Busboys and Poets

Gaida, a leading Arab female vocalist in the New York, raised in Damascus, Syria, sings with passion, style, and her own unique interpretation. She comes to Washington to lead "an Evening of Arab Song."

Joining her is an exceptional line-up of musicians including:

Amir ElSaffar: Arabic trumpet, santour
Dimitri Mikelis: `oud
Brahim Fribgane: cajon, Arabic tabla

They will perform original compositions as well as traditional and contemporary Arabic repertoire.

November 10, 2007 (Saturday) @ 7:30 P.M. in the Langston Room of Busboys and Poets (2021 14th Street NW @ U Street, Washington, DC 20009)

2007/11/09

Dastan Ensemble with Salar Aghili

Dastan Ensemble with Salar Aghili will perform traditional Persian songs from their latest album, Daryaye Bipayan ("Endless Ocean").

Video:

November 9, 2007 (Friday) @ 8:00 PM at West Potomac High School (6500 Quander Road, Alexandria VA 22307, telephone 703 861-7566)

2007/11/02

Marcel Khalife and Al-Mayadine Ensemble (2)

Marcel Khalife and Al-Mayadine Ensemble perform for two nights at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Named by UNESCO as an Artist for Peace in 2005, Lebanese composer, oud master, and singer Marcel Khalife is one of the world's leading Arab musicians. Performing his critically acclaimed new work, "Taqasim" ("Improvisations"), as well as works from his old and new lyrical repertoire.

Performers: