Live performance cultural arts related to the Middle East and Central Asia in the greater Washington, DC, area
2008/03/28
2008/03/27
Strathmore: Sara Daneshpour, pianist
Date: March 27, 2008 (Thursday)Time: 7:30 P.M.
Place: The Mansion at Strathmore
Tickets: SOLD OUT
Sara Daneshpour , a young Iranian pianist and Washington, D.C. native, won first prize in the Beethoven Society of America piano competition in 2002 and was introduced as an “Iranian genius artist” at a 2003 performance in Tehran.
Program: notes
2008/03/21
DIRT at NVCC Annandale

Date: March 21, 2008 (Friday)
Time: 8:00 P.M.
Place: NVCC Annandale Cultural Center
Tickets: $22 general, student $7 (one ticket per ID), call (800) 551-7328 or online with TicketMaster
Washington Theatre Group presents DIRT written by Robert Schneider (translated from German into English by Dr. Paul Dvorak).
Directed by Dr. David Levin, this play about prejudice and anti-foreign sentiment stars Shahin Shakibi.
2008/03/13
DIRT at GW's Marvin Center

Date: March 13, 2008 (Thursday)
Time: 8:00 P.M.
Place: Marvin Center (Betts Theatre), George Washington Universty (location)
Tickets: $22 general, student $7 (one ticket per ID), call (202) 994-7411 or online with TicketMaster
Washington Theatre Group presents DIRT written by Robert Schneider (translated from German into English by Dr. Paul Dvorak).
Directed by Dr. David Levin, this play about prejudice and anti-foreign sentiment stars Shahin Shakibi.
Simon Shaheen and Michel Merhej in Westminster
Date: March 13, 2008 (Thursday)
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Place: McDaniel College (Westminster, MD)
Tickets: $10 general (student, staff, faculty free) - call (410) 857-2462
Performers:
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Place: McDaniel College (Westminster, MD)
Tickets: $10 general (student, staff, faculty free) - call (410) 857-2462
Performers:
- Simon Shaheen, Oud & Violin
- Michel Merhej, Percussion
2008/03/12
2008/03/11
Video: Michael Kaiser announces Kennedy Center's "Arabesque"
Click here to watch the announcement of the Kennedy Center's 2008-2009 Season, including "Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World."
The festival will highlight the contemporary and classical arts – music, dance, theater, literature, fashion, photography, comedy, film and exhibitions, from the (22) Arab nations.
The festival will highlight the contemporary and classical arts – music, dance, theater, literature, fashion, photography, comedy, film and exhibitions, from the (22) Arab nations.
2008/03/09
Huun-Huur-Tu at Towson University
Date: March 9, 2008Time: 2:00 P.M.
Place: Kaplan Concert Hall at the Asian Arts & Culture Center of Towson University (directions)
Tickets: $15 general, $12 students + seniors, $10 AA&CC members, $5 students. Call (410) 704-2787 or order online
Description: Huun-Huur-Tu ("Sun Propeller") are throat-singers from the Russian Republic of Tuva, touring America in 2007-2008 from Honolulu to New York City.
Audio/Video:
MySpace (audio)
YouTube (video)
Agent: Eye for Talent
2008/03/07
Huun-Huur-Tu at Shepherd College
Date: March 7, 2008Time: 7:30 P.M.
Place: Shepherd College, WV (directions)
Tickets: $15 general public, $10 senior citizens + Shepherd faculty/staff + Jefferson CY BoE employees with ID, $5 children under 18, free for Shepherd students with Rambler ID Card. Call (304) 876-5113 or order otherwise
Description: Huun-Huur-Tu ("Sun Propeller") are throat-singers from the Russian Republic of Tuva, touring America in 2007-2008 from Honolulu to New York City.
Audio/Video:
MySpace (audio)
YouTube (video)
Agent: Eye for Talent
2008/03/06
Huun-Huur-Tu at Shepherd College
Date: March 6, 2008Time: 7:30 P.M.
Place: Shepherd College, WV (directions)
Tickets: $15 general public, $10 senior citizens + Shepherd faculty/staff + Jefferson CY BoE employees with ID, $5 children under 18, free for Shepherd students with Rambler ID Card. Call (304) 876-5113 or order otherwise
Description: Huun-Huur-Tu ("Sun Propeller") are throat-singers from the Russian Republic of Tuva, touring America in 2007-2008 from Honolulu to New York City.
Audio/Video:
MySpace (audio)
YouTube (video)
Agent: Eye for Talent
2008/03/04
Huun-Huur-Tu at Gravity Lounge
Date: March 4, 2008Time: 7:00 P.M.
Place: Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville, VA (directions)
Tickets: $20 general. Call (434) 977-5590 or order online
Description: Huun-Huur-Tu ("Sun Propeller") are throat-singers from the Russian Republic of Tuva, touring America in 2007-2008 from Honolulu to New York City.
Audio/Video:
MySpace (audio)
YouTube (video)
Agent: Eye for Talent
2008/03/02
Safaafir at Busboys & Poets

Date: March 2, 2008 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Busboys & Poets
Tickets: $10.00 at door
Descriiption: Safaafir will perform the maqam special to Iraq -- a classical vocal tradition found primarily in the cities of Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk, and Basra, drawing upon musical styles of the many populations in Iraq and the surrounding areas. Iraqi maqam is distinct maqaqm in the rest of the Arab world and Turkey. In Iraq, maqam refers to the actual compositions, which are highly-structured, semi-improvised melodic recitations of Classical Arabic and colloquial Iraqi poetry. The maqam is followed by a pesteh, or popular song, which is lighthearted and rhythmic, and often includes audience participation in the form of singing, dancing, or clapping.
Until the 20th century, the maqam was ubiquitous in the urban centers of modern-day Iraq, its melodies heard in various settings, religious and secular. Today, there are very few keeping this musical tradition alive, and Safaafir is the only Chalghi ensemble in the US that is actively performing this music. For this performance, Safaafir will focus on both the urban maqam, as well as some of the folk and rural songs found throughout the rest of Iraq.
Artists:
- Amir ElSaffar: vocal and santoor
- Dena El Saffar: jowza
- Tim Moore: percussion
Press:
New York Times
NPR
2008/03/01
Arabesque Music Ensemble: Three Musketeers Tour
Date: March 1, 2008 (Saturday)
Time: 7:30 P.M.
Location: Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, Washington, DC 20057 (directions)
Tickets: $25 general, $35 front, $15 students, available at the door, by phone (202) 338-1958, or online at http://thejerusalemfund.orchidsuites.net/
Description:
Arabesque Music Ensemble (formerly known as the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble) returns to Washington, DC, on a new national new to promote another legacy treasure of Arab World music: Music of the Three Musketeers in which the ensemble plays the music of the three who composed the most songs for Umm Kulthum (1904-1975): - Muhammad al-Qasabji
- Riyad al-Sunbati
- Zakariyya Ahmad
Video:
MySpace
YouTube
AOL
Audio:
NPR (sample)
MySpace
Discography:
Music of the Three Musketeers (2008)
Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People (2006)
Musicians:
- Karim Abou-Afach, cello
- Aboud Agha, vocals
- Michel Merhej Baklouk, percussion
- Hicham Chami, qanun
- Youssef Kassab, vocals
- Hanna Khoury, violin
- Walid Zairi, 'oud
- Dima Orsho, guest vocals
- 2008.02.05 (Tue) @ 19:30: Assembly Hall / DeKoven Center (Racine, WI)
- 2008.02.06 (Wed) @ 19:30: Preston Bradley Hall / Chicago Cultural Center (Chicago, IL)
- 2008.02.08 (Fri) @ 20:00: Rackham Auditorium / University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
- 2008.02.29 (Fri) @ 20:00: Peter Jay Sharp Theater / Peter Norton Symphony Space (New York, NY)
- 2008.03.01 (Sat) @ 20:00: Gaston Hall / Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
- 2008.03.04 (Tue) @ 20:00: Distler Hall / Granoff Music Center / Tufts University (Medford, MA)
North Shore News
Boston Globe
Washington Post
World Music Central
Pop Matters (review)
Michigan Daily
Arab American News
Time Out Chicago
Ann Arbor News
Huffington Post
Chicago Tribune
WBEZ 91.5 FM
Arab Detroit
World Music Central
Vital Source
Standard Time
KDVS 90.3 FM
Public Relations:
Rock Paper Scissors
Thanks to:
- Primary Sponsor: The Jerusalem Fund for Education & Community Development
- Co-Sponsor: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University
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