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Middle East/Mediterranean Calendar for April 2004
[To learn about getting events listed, email the Calendar Editor. Send all photos as small jpegs or gifs to Photos.]
April 8-10 (Thurs-Sat.), 8:30 p.m.—"Tamra-henna's Tarab—a Journey into the Ectasy of Arabic Dance"
Inspired by the rich music-making traditions of the Arab world, and contemporary fusions of Oriental jazz, Tamra-henna and a cast of L.A.'s top musicians and dancers guide the audience on an emotionally-charged journey into the passion, depth and diversity of Arabic dance and music. Tamra-henna is a performer, choreographer and instructor of raqs sharqi (a.k.a. bellydance) whose musicality and technique have gained international recognition.
At Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th Street., 1/4 block north of Olympic in Santa Monica.
Tickets $15 general, $13 students, seniors and Highways members. Res. 310.315.1459.
Visit the web site for further info. Cosponsored by UCLA Dept of World Arts and Cultures and Highways.
April 8 (Thurs.), 6:00 p.m.—"Naser Musa, Music of the Levant and the Gulf"
Limits of the Frontier: Featuring renowned oud player Nasir Musa along with students from the Ethnomusicology Department including Laith Ulaby, Marta Malvoidi and Hamid Maleki. Outdoors; light refreshments provided. UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History.
310.825.4361. Visit the web site for further info.
April14 (Wed.), 8 p.m.—Manoochehr Sadeghi, Santur Master
The World Music Lectures, Manoochehr Sadeghi- Persian Music • Music Recital Hall, 8:00 p.m., Admission Free • This lecture is underwritten by a generous grant from the CSUN Office of Granduate Studies Distinguished Speakers program. 818.677.2155. For more info visit the CSUN site.
Aprl 15 (Thurs.), 7p.m.—Activists on peace movements in Israel and Palestine
Peace activists discuss the different peace movements within Israel & Palestine. Public Policy Building, Room 1234, UCLA. 310.825.7041.
April 17 (Sat.), 6:00 p.m.—"Hollywood Buddha," a film by Philippe Caland at the Director's Guild, from the creator of "Boxing Helena"
A special invitation to Levantine Cultural Center subscribers and members. Beirut-born filmmaker Philippe Caland's highly original meditation on life in Los Angeles. To RSVP for this free screening, click here now and reserve. You can also call 323.650.7010 and leave your name, number and email address.
Director's Guild, 7920 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 90046. Complete info at the Hollywood Buddha web site.
"Hollywood Buddha is the best movie about L.A. I've seen in a long time. It is beautifully directed with humor and compassion, and the performances are stunning, which is particularly impressive in that most of the cast weren't professional actors. Philippe Caland's own performance as the lead is not to be missed." —Adrian Lyne (director, "9 1/2 Weeks," "Fatal Attraction," "Jacob's Ladder," "Unfaithful.")
"Hollywood Buddha" is funny, smart, warm and wise. A real gift. And the acting and directing on spot on. Just terrific." —Jay Levin, founder of the L.A. Weekly.
Come see the film, meet the director, and mix with the Levantine scene. Free to the public.
Visit the web site.
April 18 (Sun.), 8:00 p.m.—"(Home) or The Quest for the Lost Tablet of Ur"
"Lawrence of Arabia" and King Faisal meet the "Wizard of Oz" in this play combining politics and fantasy about the establishment of Iraq.
April 18 only, Special Levantine group rate of $15 instead of $20 for this new play. To purchase tickets at part of the group for Sunday, April 18, reserve now by calling 323.650.7010, leaving your name, phone number and email address.
This play runs from April 16 through May 22.
The story of (HOME) or THE QUEST FOR THE LOST TABLET OF UR: Inspired by the same ancient tablet, but separated by a century of history, two women journey to the heart of Mesopotamia in search of meaning, redemption and the original Garden of Eden. What they find is an absurd and phantasmagorical adventure which brings them beyond themselves and closer to (HOME). Set in the playground of the mind, (HOME) weaves Martha Graham-based movement, a Levantine soundscape, puppets and masks into an epic comedy of historical, political, religious and existential insurgency.
CAST: DAVID ACKERT · TONY FORKUSH · BRIAN FRETTE · JOHN HANSEN · BJØRN JOHNSON · CAROL KATZ · YURIANA KIM ·BERNADETTE SULLIVAN · RAINBOW UNDERHILL
A play by Steven Haworth, story by Gleason Bauer and Steven Haworth, John Kellam and Bernadette Sullivan. Co-directed by Gleason Bauer and Jon Kellam. Movement by Madeleine Dahm. Produced by Darcine Wdowczak Thomas. Exec. prod. Stacey Jack, prod. Matthew Schooler.
THE LILLIAN THEATER, 1076 N. Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA. A production of ZOO Theatre. Winner of 10 Garland Awards, 9 LA Weekly Awards & 4 Ovation Awards
"The courage and daring of this company is awe inspiring!" —Back Stage West
"An always stylish, highly talented troupe." —LA Weekly
"A bucket of wonders—the atmospheric pleasures keep coming." —Los Angeles Times
General admission tickets for all performances during the Limited Run are $20.00 each, while tickets for Groups of 10 or more are $15.00 each. Student Group Discounts are also available for Groups of 10 or more at $12.00 per ticket. Tickets for the Gala Opening Weekend Party on Saturday, April 17, 2004 and for the Closing Night Party on Saturday, May 22, 2004 are $30.00 for each respective performance. For further information and to purchase General Admission tickets, please call the Plays 411 Box Office at 323.769.5674. To purchase tickets for Groups. Zoo District is a proud member of Theatre LA; tickets for select performances of this production will also be available via Play7 by visiting the website. For further information about (HOME) or THE QUEST FOR THE LOST TABLET OF UR, please visit the website.
April 19 (Mon.), 4:00 p.m.—"Cosmopolitanisms, Levantinism and Shami Self-Perception in 20th-century Egypt"
Hala Halim engages a Levantine discourse in a free forum at UCLA's Royce Hall, H. Morris Room 306.
The UCLA Humanities Consortium Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Seminar Series Nations and Identities: Minorities, Majorities, and the Question of Civil Society presents Hala Halim, who obtained her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is currently an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow with the Humanities Consortium of UCLA. She has published articles on the poet C. P. Cavafy and the Alexandrian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, among others, and her literary translations include Mohamed El-Bisatie’s award-winning novel Clamor of the Lake (American University in Cairo Press, 2004).
Alexandrian cosmopolitanism: colonial paradigms and postcolonial re-appropriations
A considerable body of scholarship in recent years has sought in a rethought cosmopolitanism a conceptual framework for addressing the phenomena of exacerbated nationalisms, globalization and transnationalism. While older, universalist definitions continue to be adduced, if with modifications, another trend in such studies is the privileging of non-Eurocentric, and hence likely non-imperialist definitions elicited from specific contexts. In analyzing variously articulated discourses of cosmopolitanism associated with Alexandria, this seminar draws on these debates as well as on the regional re-appropriations of the city’s archive in a bid for inter-cultural dialogue and for bolstering civil society. Vital as the Middle Eastern recouping of Alexandrian cosmopolitanism is, however, it should be preceded by a revision of previous readings of the city’s ethnic and religious heterogeneity, if it is to avoid the risk of complicity. This seminar therefore identifies and critiques a Hellenizing, quasi-colonial paradigm in “canonical” Alexandrian texts and seeks out “contrapuntal” valences of cosmopolitanism in postcolonial writings about the city.
HALA HALIM obtained her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is currently an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow with the Humanities Consortium of UCLA. She has published articles on the poet C. P. Cavafy and the Alexandrian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, among others, and her literary translations include Mohamed El-Bisatie’s award-winning novel Clamor of the Lake (American University in Cairo Press, 2004).
310.206-0559. For complete info visit this site.
April 24 (Sat.), 7:30 p.m.—"Iraq, Pluralism, Chaos and Transcendence," Levantine ArtsSalon of Iraqi Sufi Music with the Saadoun Al-Bayati Ensemble, and Mark LeVine On Iraq Today and Yona Sabar on Iraq as a Pluralistic Society
A night of music, culture, discussion and mingling, with appetizers, bar, bookstore and more. Exclusive event. You must RSVP, 323.650.7010. Tickets $20, $15 members, students $10. Call now, seating limited—last year, Saadoun Al-Bayati sold out.
New-generation historian and Middle East scholar (UCI) Mark LeVine will discuss his March tour of the country and examine the deeper processes that often go unexplored by media and policy makers, when he speaks on "Iraq, Chaos and Globalization." UCLA's Yona Sabar, an Iraqi Jewish Kurd, gives further cultural perspective with his discussion of"Iraq as a Pluralist Society in the first half of the 20th century," followed by a public dialogue with Sabar, LeVine and Al-Bayati moderated by Jawad Ali. A rare southern California appearance by Saadoun Al-Bayati with his Ensemble performing Iraqi/Arab Sufi and popular music. ArtsSalon Venice. You must RSVP for address and directions.
For more on Mark LeVine, click here. For more on Yona Sabar, click here. For more on Saadoun, click here.
Events in May Include an Exclusive Series of North African and Levantine Films at the Redcat Presented by Cal Arts/Berenice Reynaud/Global Initiative.
Save the date of May 22 to see Egyptian novelist and Kennedy Center Fellow Nora Amin on Egypt, as part the Levantine Arts Salon Series.
A night of performance, culture and mingling, with appetizers, bar, bookstore and more. Exclusive event. You must RSVP, 323.650.7010. Tickets $20, $15 members.
Special Announcements
Volunteer with Levantine Cultural Center's Programming Committee
Bring your ideas, enthusiasm and support to the Center by participating in a new Programming Committee, that will cooperate with our Board of Directors in creating new arts programs in the weeks and months ahead. To get on the reservation list for the next meeting, email us now!
Board of Directors Seeks Community LeadersLevantine Center's Board of Directors is continually 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 at 323.650.7010.
Submit your calendar listings to our calendar editor now.
To subscribe to our listserve and receive our special updates (which include free ticket giveaways, articles and more), send a message to: info@levantinecenter.org and include Subscribe Me in the subject box. Be sure to give us your first and last name and how you heard about us!To join/support Levantine Cultural Center, simply go to our signup page and fill in the blanks, print and mail; or send your check for $120 annual membership dues (that's just $10 per month! you'll receive many discounts and a pair of free tickets to an upcoming event, a minimum $40 value) to: Levantine Center, 8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N. 789, West Hollywood, CA 90069.
LEVANTINE CULTURAL CENTER
Cultures of the Middle East & Mediterranean
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N.789, West Hollywood CA 90069
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.