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For more information please contact Adrian Pennington penningtonadrian@hotmail.com
The Arabic Weekender
Friday 18 - Sunday 20 July 2008 - Part of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival
Dance bonanza headlines a weekend feast of Arabic arts and culture
A Middle Eastern Dance Bonanza headlined by the extraordinary Egyptian dancer, Djamila Hanan, is at the heart of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2008 - the biggest celebration of Arabic arts and culture in the UK.
The centrepiece of the Festival is The Arabic Weekender (Friday 18 - Sunday 20 July), a packed programme of events which alongside dance, features theatre, photographic and art exhibitions, workshops, literature readings and a unique series of films from the Yemen.
Performing for the first time in the UK Djamila Hanan will entertain visitors with a wonderful evening of traditional Arabian dances (Sahlalla, Thur 17 and Sat 19 July, 8.00pm, the Bluecoat) supported by fellow artists Houda Amrani, Khaled Mahmoud, Shafeek Ibrahim, Fereshteh Hossieni and Caroline Afifi.
More contemporary dance interpretations are to be found in Shifting Sands (Fri 18 July 8.00pm, the Bluecoat) in which Raksan will perform her spectacular piece, 46. The dazzling work of Venus Saleh and Wendy Buonaventura is also featured.
Visitors are welcome to join in and learn from the experts in a full day of dance workshops (Sun 20 July, 11.00am - 5.00pm) ranging from masterclasses led by Raksan and Djamila Hanan, to a free family beginners’ session.
In the evening why not head to the Unity Theatre to see acclaimed political satire RIOT, (Fri 18 July, Sat 19 July, 7.30pm). Set during the 1930 Yemeni seamen’s riot in South Shields, the play presents a love story between a young Yemeni seaman and a South Shields girl as tensions between their two communities grow. RIOT is sponsored by Unison North West.
As always during the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival there is a busy programme of film which this year explores poetry, grief, romance, justice and bravery in a mix of documentary and fiction works from the Yemen (Yemen Film Weekend (Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 July, World Museum Liverpool).
A large-scale exhibition examining Arabic urban environments will be open all weekend at the Bluecoat and Open Eye Gallery. Comprised of photography, video, sculptural installation and performance, New Ends, Old Beginnings features work from Can Altay, Ziad Antar, Lara Baladi, Cevdet Erek, Tarek Al Ghoussein and Chourouk Hriech among many other artists.
Just a short walk away lies a stunning exhibition of photographs by Tim Smith exploring past and present Yemeni communities in Liverpool, South Wales and Sheffield. Coal Frankincense and Myrrh: Yemen and British Yemenis (free, The Picton Reading Room, Central Library) is open throughout the weekend.
Explore new meanings of your own family photographs, instruments, video or sounds in the company of experts at the Arabic Arts Festival Media Workshop (Sat 19 July, 11.00 - 4.00pm, FACT) or head to the Al-Ghazali Centre for a chance to sample the delicious cooking of the Arab Levant (A Taste of Palestine (Sunday 20th July, 1.00pm - 5.00pm).
With something for everyone, these are just of the some of the treats in store at the Arabic Weekender.
Taher Qassim MBE, Chair of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival, said:
"I would be delighted to welcome everyone to come and visit, enjoy and take part in the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival which continues to grow in popularity and prestige. The 2008 programme, which is centered around the Arabic Weekender, promises to be even more memorable. I am proud that the diversity and richness of Arabic culture is being seen to flourish in a city which supports the biggest festival of its kind in the UK."
Interviews are available with the following LAAF 2008 participants:
- Caroline Afifi, dancer and curator: Middle Eastern Dance Bonanza
- Djamila Hanan, Egyptian dancer: Middle Eastern Dance Bonanza
- Peter Mortimer, theatre director, playwright and author of RIOT
- Tim Smith, Photographer: Coal Frankincense and Myrrh: Yemen and British Yemenis
Festival programme and ticket information: call 0151 702 5324.
For press information or photographs please contact Adrian Pennington on 07737 970 930 or email penningtonadrian@hotmail.com
Notes to editors:
The Bluecoat and Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival
Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival is now in its seventh successive year. The event started as a partnership between Liverpool Arabic Centre and the Bluecoat and over the years has grown to involve more partners from the city's arts and Arabic communities. The Bluecoat reopened earlier this year following a £12.5m redevelopment, and the LAAF remains a key part of the organisation's activities and reflects the diverse nature of the Bluecoat's programme. LAAF is at the heart of the Bluecoat's artistic programme presenting the best of new, innovative local and international visual art and live art along with contemporary dance, music and literature events.
www.thebluecoat.org.uk
The Liverpool Arabic Centre
LAC is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee based in the Toxteth area of Liverpool. The LAC works alongside the Yemeni and Arabic speaking communities and those interested in Arabic culture and language in the Liverpool area. Through the facilitation and provision of community development and activity their mission is to contribute to the relief of poverty and improve health and education within the Yemeni/Arabic community. They also aim to strengthen the awareness of Yemeni Arabic Culture and celebrate and promote all aspects of Arabic history, language cultural heritage and identity.
www.liverpoolarabiccentre.org.uk
