Rosa Rojas: guedra dancer and teacherGuedra is a ritual blessing dance from the Tuareg Berbers, or "Blue People". Guedra is performed to envelop all present with positive energy, peace and spiritual love.The rhythmical clapping, and chanting, and dancers finger's and hand movements all have their origin in ancient symbolism. The Blue People consider Guedra to be their direct contact the elements, spirit, and universe. It is their deepest expression of their souls and provides protection against a hostile environment and evil spirits. The Guedra is an Arabic word for cooking pot. The cooking pot was covered in animal skin to make a drum to be played in the heartbeat rhythm. Workshop is open to all!

The Guedra workshop will begin with counter clapping and chanting warm up. Students will learn two blessing and counter clapping rhythms. There will also be a T'bal (standing dance) warm up. we will than proceed with Guedra on the knees and sitting position, and explore the intricacies of the hand, and arm movements. The Symbolic gestures are designed to send out blessings to the future, past, and present; to the Sun, Earth, Water and Wind. Towards the end of the workshop we will combine all elements of the Guedra.

Salam ShalomTalkback Series: Theatre and the Middle East following SALAM SHALOM, Enemies...Another Love Story" written by Saleem, directed by Ty Donaldson, plays runs through April 17th. Read more/get tickets here. Talkbacks on March 14 and March 28 ("The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict on Stage: Challenges and Breakthroughs." Info here.)

Sexuality, Nationality and the Occupation in the lives of Israelis and Palestinians

March 14th, 2010 - 7pm curtain

How do competing nationalisms play into the ways Israelis and Palestinians treat homosexuality? As the LGBT communities in Israel fight for equal recognition under state law that is dictated by the orthodox community, to the Palestinian LGBT community experiencing oppression both by Israeli occupation and by the weight of religion and tradition. What is the future for LGBT people in Israel and Palestine, and how can their common experiences be used as avenues for peace?

Speakers Include

Rabbi Lisa Edwards. From the world's first LGBT synagogue, Beth Chayim Chadashim
Ally Bolour. Attorney specializing in immigration law
Ziad Abu Rish. Former counselor with Seeds of Peace
Saleem the playwright, and the cast of Salam Shalom

"New Voices" Film Series Screens Franco-Lebanese-Iranian Feature

"Niloofar"Levantine Center presents an exclusive director's screening of Niloofar, the acclaimed directorial debut by Franco-Lebanese director Sabine El Gemayel. Filmed in the Khuzestan Province of Iran, near the Iraqi border, this movie is in Persian with English subtitles (82 minutes). This is third film to screen in the New Voices in Middle Eastern Cinema series, which takes place every third Thursday of the month. A Q & A with writer/director Sabine El Gemayel will follow the screening.

Niloofar is a twelve-year-old girl whose dream is to read and write, but she lives in a village where education is only for boys. Her mother, a well-known midwife, insists that Niloofar become her apprentice. While assisting her mother during a delivery, Niloofar meets a feminist woman who undertakes to teach her in secret. Unfortunately, in exchange for a palm tree field, Niloofar's father promises her in marriage to an older man once she becomes a woman.

Horrified by this notion, Niloofar does everything in her power to postpone her first periods. Eventually, the inevitable occurs. However, Niloofar, who is determined to keep her freedom as long as possible, arranges to conceal the fact from her family for another two years until the truth can no longer be hidden. Then, rather than live in a marriage without love, Niloofar runs away with her friend. Shocked, her family considers itself dishonored and sends her step-brother to track her down.

Micheline Aharonian MarcomMicheline Aharonian Marcom, Acclaimed Lebanese Armenian American Novelist, Speaks at Chapma

The Third Area presents "Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here, a Memorial Reading" as part of LA of the Land 2010: Transnational City:

How We Live at the Casitas StudiosSays photographer Sara Anjargolian: "'Are these photographs going to make a di

Salam ShalomTalkback Series: Theatre and the Middle East following SALAM SHALOM, Enemies...Another Love Story" written by Saleem, directed by Ty Donaldson, plays runs through April 17th. Read more/get tickets here.

The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict  on Stage: Challenges and Breakthroughs

March 28th, 2010 - 7pm curtain

Since September 11th the Middle East has become a frequent subject for American theatre. We will ask, what is the role that theatre might play in representing the divergent histories of Israeli and Palestinian peoples, and the conflict today? How are the conflict's dramas and cycles of violence portrayed on stage? What are the successes and failures in theatre's attempt to represent the changing geo-political landscape of the region?

Speakers Include

Saleem is a Palestinian-American performer/playwright, author of "Salam Shalom": An Israeli and a Palestinian man meet in Los Angeles, face their own prejudices and fall in love, only for that love to be challenged upon returning to Jerusalem.

Wendy Graf is a Jewish-American playwright, author of the up coming production "Behind the Gates": A seventeen year old American girl goes on a school trip to Israel and disappears into the haredi community. Her parents must journey to Israel to search for her.

Ellen Shipley the director of "Desert Sunrise": A chance meeting between a Palestinian shepherd and an Israeli soldier who are both seeking shelter in a desert valley in the Israeli occupied West Bank.