POSTPONED This event has been pushed forward to January 2013. Artists for Peace features a very special performance by Tony Khalifé in an evening of mystical music and dance with influences from Lebanon, India, North Africa and beyond, with special poetry performances by Sholeh Wolpe and Sheila Vossough reciting the poetry of Ahmad Shamloo and Forough Farrokhzad in English and Farsi, also featuring The Forbidden poetry of Iran.
Akram Khan has become one of the most acclaimed choreographers of this generation, with countless awards and citations for his bold approach to creating dance works. His signature choreographic style draws upon techniques and vocabularies from Kathak and modern dance. For Vertical Road Akram Khan has assembled a cast of performers from across Asia, Europe and the Middle East for a courageous and ambitious work set to a specially commissioned score from composer Nitin Sawhney, Khan's long-term collaborator and fellow cultural pioneer. Vertical Road draws inspiration from the Sufi tradition and beloved Persian philosopher-poet Rumi.
LOS ANGELES WILL BE HOME TO FIRST MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS CENTER
FOR THE MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA, OPENING JAN 2013
After over a decade of presenting arts and education programs in Southern California, the Levantine Cultural Center (LCC)—a 501c3 nonprofit organization that champions diverse cultures from Morocco to Afghanistan—has embarked on a 6-month campaign to raise $2 million. The Center will re-open in a new 10,000 square foot multidisciplinary space in January 2013. The LCC presents arts that promote inter-cultural dialogue and friendship, including film, theatre, music, art exhibits, author talks, classes and workshops.
By any measure, Niyaz has come very far, very fast. In 2005, along with vocalist Azam Ali and programmer/producer Carmen Rizzo, Loga Ramin Torkian founded the best-selling world music group Niyaz. Drawing on medieval Persian poetry and 300-year old Persian folk songs, Niyaz created a 21st century global trance tradition and quickly became a standout ensemble in a very crowded world music field.
Late in July, Beirut's venerable dance company, Caracalla, presented their latest grand epic, "Zayed and the Dream," at Royce Hall. Under the watchful eye of Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, who sat quietly in the theatre dressed in jeans and a baseball cap, some 100 cast members entertained an audience made up almost equally of Arab Americans and non-Middle Easterners. The first half of the 2-hour plus performance told the hagiographic story of United Arabs Emirates founder Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Zayed and the Dream follows the journey of seven horsemen as they travel through the sands of time in search of the destined one who will engrave his vision on the deserts of Arabia.
Aslan Media (Staff Writer)
As summer quickly approaches, many of us will inevitably reminisce about years gone by. The end of school brought about warm evenings huddled with friends beneath a blanket of stars, singing folk tunes like "Cumbaya" or even Disney classics like "Hakuna Matata". At some point in between the campfire smores and gossip about the latest high school "crush," childhood delivered one of life's most poignant messages: the similarities we share are stronger than the differences that separate us.
Mamak Khadem & Ensemble with perform with special world music guest artists Shahrokh Moshkinghalam and Omar Faruk Tekbilek directed by Hamid Saeidi at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. Also guest starring is Fereidoun Farahandouz. Tickets available at melliticket.com.