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Middle East/Mediterranean Calendar for August 2003
[To learn about getting events listed, email the Calendar Editor. Send all photos as small jpegs or gifs to Photos.]
Aug. 14 (Thurs.), 8 p.m.—Zohar Performs at the Skirball Cultural Center-FREE
In the Skirball's free concert series each Thursday evening at 7:30 (arrive early to park ($5) and get your seats). "This innovative four-piece ensemble from London blends mystical Middle Eastern sounds with modern technology and dance grooves. Zohar’s new soul fusion of Jewish Cantors, Arab Muezzins, and Byzantine chants effortlessly connects cultures separated by thousands of years and thousands of miles."
“Zohar samples the Middle East’s most spiritual singers, adding grooves and cinematic effects to their voices to forge a mellifluous, otherworldly sound.”—Time Out London
Aug. 15 (Fri.), 8 p.m.—Kan Zaman Performs at Levitt Pavillion for the Performing Arts
Featured artist: Kan Zaman: Classical and folkloric Arabic music. This is a free concert in Memorial Park. The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts is proud to present an energetic series of 34 free outdoor community concerts beginning July 20, at the historic bandshell in Memorial Park, Pasadena. The Levitt series of theme nights includes (from Wednesday to Sunday respectively): Children's Night; Folk/Rock Night; World Beat Night; Anything Goes Night; Jazz Fusion and Blues Night. The Levitt enables people of all ages, backgrounds and tastes to experience entertainment, enrichment and the environment all in one beautiful venue. Memorial Park is in oldtown Pasadena at Raymond Avenue and Walnut Street.
Aug. 17 (Sun.), 6 pm-9 pm—A Night of Nouveau Sephardic Middle Eastern + Reggae Groove Music
***Special Levantine Dream Deal: Purchase Your Tix for Only $18 Rather Than $35! Mention the Levantine $18 dollar tickets and save. You must call ahead, and hurry, this offer won't last: 310.440.1246.***
With a 6 pm reception (a Middle Eastern café with Persian desserts, coffees and liqueurs) and concert from 7-9 pm, this unique evening is part of The Mulholland Nights Summer Series at the University of Judaism (all welcome!). The evening will feature Galeet Dardashti and her band Divahn performing traditional Sephardic songs delivered with creative sophistication. Anyone who thinks Jewish music equals klezmer needs to hear Divahn's nouveau Sephardic/Middle Eastern groove. The all-female quartet infuses traditional songs with creative sophistication and harmonies, using tabla, cello, rabel, and other acoustics, plus vocals in Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Persian and Aramaic.
Also performing will be Elan - former front man for Bob Marley's Legendary band The Wailers, Elan delivers roots, rock and reggae in a refreshing style all his own. We can say more, but music speaks louder than words!
Fans first heard Divahn's Middle Eastern/Sephardic grooves deep in the heart of Texas. Today, this all-female Austin-based quartet delights audiences throughout the country, infusing traditional songs with sophisticated harmonies and arrangements. Their beautiful lyricism flows through an intense rhythmic drive. The group distinguishes itself as the only all-female ensemble performing Mizrakhi-influenced music (Jewish music from the Middle East and North Africa) in the US, and has performed with some of the world's most renowned master musicians, including Glen Velez and Anindo Chatterjee.
Divahn, is a word common to Hebrew, Persian, and Arabic; through its music, Divahn seeks to underscore the interconnectedness of diverse Middle Eastern cultures.
"In combining the old and new, drawing from across the globe, and mixing their respective musical gifts, Divahn have not only a fine debut on their hands, but a new musical statement - one of craft, originality, and spirit."- Austin Chronicle
In the Gindi Auditorium, University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Hwy, just off the 405 Fwy., in Bel-Air, 9007. Call 1-888-853-6763 or 310.476.9777 for general info.
Aug. 20 (Wed.), 8 p.m.—Algerian Rai Master Maurice Medioni Performs at the Skirball Cultural Center-$5
Profiled in PRI's "The World" and PBS's "Frontline," Maurice El Medioni is a living legend and one of the few surviving Sephardic musicians who grew up in Oran, Algeria playing rai with musicians from both Arab and Jewish communities. "This grandmaster of the PianOriental and grandfather of Algerian pop msic performs with Karim Dellali on darbuka, and converses with Jonathan Walton of the U.K. band Oi-Va-Voi abut the connections between Jewish and Arab music in North Africa. Read a detailed bio of Maurice El Medioni.
Aug. 21 (Thurs.), 8 p.m.—Dis/Orient Performs at the Skirball Cultural Center-FREE
U.S. premiere in the Skirball's free concert series, each Thursday evening at 7:30 (arrive early to park ($5) and get your seats)."Dis/Orient is a celebration of the best of new digital artists, live musicians, and electronica. This super-group features Maurice El Medioni, the Sephardic grandmaster of Algerian pop music and the PianOriental with his ensemble El-Andalus, the leading proponents in London of classical Arabic and Andalusian music; Oi-Va-Voi, the top U.K. band that specializes in bringing Eastern European and Jewish music to dance clubs; Middle Eastern dancer Mia Serra; and dj Max Reinhardt, the undisputed king of the dance floor who has been instrumental in bringing world music to the forefront of the London and international club scene." The concert will be followed by a late-night dance party with dj Max Reinhardt.
Aug 22-28 (Fri.-Thurs.) "Beyond Words," Kurdish Iranian Documentary, Screens at Arclight
After being away from his country of birth for close to two decades, an Iranian born filmmaker goes back to discover his roots and the land of his ancestors, Kurdistan. During the many trips there, he realizes a lot more than just his own family background.
Jahanshah Ardalan, left Iran in his early teens in the mid-seventies to study. He first went to England and then came to the US. He studied filmmaking at San Francisco Art Institute. He shot "Beyond Words" from 1991 to 1999. The postproduction started in 2002 and the film was finished in 2003.
The 39'-minute documentary screens for a week at the Arclight as part of the 7th annual International Documentary Association's InFACT series. Tickets are available through the ArcLight Cinemas website and box office, 6360 Sunset Blvd. Ticket prices are $11 for general admission and $9 for students, seniors and members of ArcLight and IDA.
August 23 & Aug. 30 (Sat.), 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Writing Studio Workshop, "Rites of Passage"A day-long writing workshop (given twice) explores experiences participants remember as rites of passage. Says creative writing instructor Elana Golden, "In this workshop you'll be writing about the events in your lives that shaped you. The personal and the political will be addressed and explored through the eye of the writer and the wisdom of literature. Participants will be gently guided to turn real life events into fiction. This type of artistic expression can be cathartic and deeply healing." The atmosphere at the Writing Studio is vibrant and exciting as well as gentle and supportive. Individual attention is given to each participant's creative needs and aspirations. The assignments are written and read in the group and the feedback is constructive and respectful. This workshop is for everybody regardless of previous writing experience.
"Elana is an inspiring guide, creating a mix of instruction, encouragement and safety for us to go beyond our perceived limitations." Simone Wallace, writer, co-founder Sisterhood Bookstore
"I didn't know I could write until I met Elana. I am totally amazed." Ivona Jezierska, team member Women's Chess Olympics
"Elana reminded me how much I love writing." Jimmy Cummings, screenwriter
Several professional writer members of Levantine Center (as well as non-writers who wish to express themselves on paper) have attended Writing Studio workshops, which take place in a very quiet, relaxing atmosphere in the Hancock Park area. Attendees can expect to arrive at an epiphany or two while producing material that may surprise even themselves. The cost of the workshop is $100, including lunch (active Levantine Cultural Center members receive 10% off).
Founder of The Writing Studio and an artist member of Levantine Cultural Center, Elana Golden is a writer, director, and teacher with a BA in Film from NYU, and MA in Spiritual Psychology from USM. A student of Eastern philosophy and meditation for 20 years, Elana combines art, spirituality and politics in her teaching.
For further information or to register, please contact Elana Golden at 323.936.2601, or email her.
Special Announcements
Learn Conversational Levantine Arabic at Levantine Cultural Center!
We currently offer a beginning and beginning/intermediate conversational Levantine Arabic (spoken in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan) class, taught by Nezar Andary, an excellent instructor who has lived in Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Students love this class! All classes take place at the Felicia Mahood Senior Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. Please call us for schedule and registration form, 323.650.7010.
Board of Directors Seeks Community LeadersLevantine Center's Board of Directors is currently in formation, and welcomes inquiries—we are actively searching for more people with our passion and conviction! The board consists of diverse members of the community who are of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean heritage or who have a strong professional or artistic interest in furthering our mission. As directors, board members represent the organization officially, are responsible for its financial health, and make the priority strategic decisions, with counsel from Advisory Board members where possible. Board members work with activists heading specific committes, including the Film/Video, Literary, Education Performing Arts and Membership Committees.
Our Advisory Board is also in formation. Advisory board members are known professionally in their own communities and offer valuable counsel and services to the organization; they are eligible to attend the organization's annual retreat and receive other benefits.
Please contact us at323.650.7010.
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LEVANTINE CULTURAL CENTER
Cultures of the Middle East & Mediterranean
10469 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90025 [facilities]
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N.789, West Hollywood CA 90069 [office and mailing address]
323.650.7010, info@levantinecenter.org
Levantine Center advocates for, educates about, and in general promotes and supports Middle Eastern and Mediterranean contemporary arts and traditional cultures. We present or cosponsor programs of music, literature, art, film/video, publications, new media and more, often from educational and historical perspectives. While acknowledging the value of entertainment, we emphasize scholarship and substance. We are strongly multidisciplinary and non-sectarian, do not embrace any political or religious doctrine, and are committed to the principle of cross-cultural cooperation. We support the strengthening of ties between all cultural, ethnic and religious communities of the Middle East/West Asia/Levant, as well as between all peoples of Middle Eastern descent in diaspora.
See what Levantine Center has been up to and take note of other recent cultural events.
See what Levantine Center was up to during our pre-opening season, late in '01.
