In these pages you will hopefully find interesting tips on how to take advantage of Cairo's many cultural opportunities, with particular attention to live events. Cairo Live Events Guide does not pretend to be exhaustive but will try to cover main events open to the public.

This is a private, independent, nonprofit endeavour. This blog was started in August 2008 by Cairowanderer who has been running it solo up to May 2011. Since then Cairene Beat contributes as well to the blog. If you have any comment, tip, or information you think might be relevant for the blog, please write to cairowanderer@gmail.com or cairenebeat@gmail.com.

Read about Cairo Live Events Guide on The Daily News Egypt

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

CARAVAN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS 2013 in Maadi


As Egypt seeks to find its path into the future, the 2013 annual CARAVAN Festival of the Arts has the theme “In Peace and with Compassion …The Way Forward”. Hosted at St. John’s Church-Maadi/Cairo, sponsored by the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, and supported by the British Council, the festival will be held from Thursday May 9 to Thursday May 16, 2013 and will focus on visual public art, literature, film and music.

CARAVAN Festival of the Arts was founded five years ago with the objective of building bridges of understanding, respect and friendship between East and West, and between Muslims and Christians, through the Arts. The annual week-long festival attracts thousands of visitors from around Egypt and the world. One of its unique aspects is that, to date, the festival has taken place at the historic St. John’s Church in Maadi/Cairo, a center for interfaith dialogue for over 80 years.

The heart of this 2013 CARAVAN festival is a visual public art exhibition. This year over 45 premier Egyptian and Western visual artists, Muslim and Christian, are participating in what will be a truly unique public art-oriented exhibition for Cairo. The 2013 CARAVAN visual art emphasis seeks to follow in the footsteps of an approach to public art that has featured painted animals. The subject in Cairo will be the donkey which symbolizes peace in both Islam and Christianity. Participating artists included celebrated Egyptian artists such Reda Abdel Rahman, George Bahgory, Ibrahim El Dessouky, and Mohamed Abla, to expatriate artists such as the well-known Norwegian artist, Britt Boutros-Ghali.

Additionally, there are special participating guests in the festival for film, literature and music include noted Egyptian actor Amr Waked, who will be giving a talk and a screening of his latest film "Winter of Discontent", Dr Alaa El Aswany, the best selling novelist of The Yacoubian Building, who will give a talk and sign his newly released book "The Automobile Club", and the renowned oud (lute) composer and player, Georges Kazazian.

All attendance is free of charge, but 20% of all art sales go to Egyptian charities assisting the poor regardless of creed.

Website: http://www.oncaravan.org/exhitibion5/index.htm
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-jiYcwzCYI
Facebook--CARAVAN Festival of the Arts: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caravan-Festival-of-the-Arts/156946157687350

Monday, April 29, 2013

The week at the Cairo Jazz Club


Wednesdays 1st MayDJ Feedo (RnB & Hip Hop), starting from 10:00pm
Thursday 2nd May: Bluenotes (Upbeat Blues) followed by Bad Mojo (Blues), starting from 9:00pm
Friday 3rd May: DJ Madlou/ DJ Amr Hosny (Vocal, Tech house), starting from 10:00pm
Saturday 4th May: Basheer (Modern Folkloric), starting from 9:00pm
Sunday 5th May: Michelle Rounds (Vocal Jazz), starting from 9:00pm
Monday 6th May: Hassan Abou Alam/ Shady Noor (Vocal Tech House), starting from 10:00pm
Tuesday 7th May: High Voltage ft. $$TAG$$ (debut)/ Void (debut)/NEOBYRD (Electronic), starting from 9:00pm

For Reservations, call 01068804764
Check www.cairojazzclub.com for all CJC info, schedule, menus, photo gallery and more.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

"History and Music" Book Discussions


Pro Helvetia organizes two book discussions of ‘History and Music’ with editors Dr. Mohamed Afifi and Dr. Nahla Mattar. Contributors Dr. Ahmed Hennawi and writer Sayed Mahmoud will also be present at the discussion at the Cairo Conservatoire to talk about their articles “Hasaballah Troupe for Egyptian music” and “Ahmed Adawiya: between Elitism and the People's Choice

History and Music’ is a collection of articles written by specialists in both fields, tackling the social history of music in both Egypt and Switzerland. The book was published by Ein for Human and Social Studies and is considered the first of its kind in the Arab World.

Monday 29 April, 2013 at 12:00 PM Book Discussion at the Cairo Conservatoire, Gamal Eldin El Afghany Street – El Haram

Thursday 9 May, 2013 at 7:00 PM Book Discussion at the Karmet Ibn Hanie Cultural Center, Ahmed Shawky Museum, 6 Ahmed Shawky st., from Murad st., Corniche El Nile - Giza

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

NUBANOUR at El Dammah Theater


El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to enjoy a night with the Black Pearls, NUBANOUR, Thursday the 25/04/2013 at El Dammah Theater at 9:00 PM.

NUBANOUR joined El Mastaba in 2010. NubaNour presents traditional Nubian music, dances, and songs, many of which reflect the suffering of the Nubian people: in the 1960s, around 100,000 Nubians were forced to resettle in the desert without compensation when the rising waters from the construction of the High Dam flooded the villages of their homeland. Since then, they have suffered political marginalization and, as their way of life was tied to the Nile, a loss of identity and culture. However, their music continues to be inspired by this displacement and loss which figure prominently in their music. This music plays an important role in keeping alive the Nubian heritage and languages. The Nubian identity is an inclusive one: today, they still sing old songs directed to Virgin Mary, in addition to the songs dedicated to the Prophet Mohammed.
NubaNour has performed throughout Egypt, and has participated in international tours and festivals, such as the WOMAD festival in England in 2012. In collaboration with the British production company, IPS 30 and with the support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), El Mastaba is launching in 2013 NubaNour's debut album, "Damnation".

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, Tickets by reservation 20 EGP. Reservations will be canceled at 9:00 PM.
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org.
For reservations: info@el-mastaba.org or call 011 50 99 5354, 011 243 66 241, 0223926768

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Cairo Jazz Club Weekly Sched April 23-30

 
CJC Weekly Schedule
 
Funky Tuesday 23rd April
The Cadillacs
Rockabilly
Starting from 9:00pm
Buzzz
Rock, Pop, Funk
Starting from 11:00pm
 
Wednesdays House 24th April
House Obsession ft.
DJ Aroussi, DJ Aly Goede,  DJ Aly B
House
Starting from 10:00pm
 
Thursday Night Live 25th April
Hassan Ramzy
Acoustic Rock/Pop
Starting from 9:00pm
Crash Boom Bang
Rock, Pop, Funk
Starting from 11:00pm
 
Electro Friday 26th April
DJ Fahmy & Samba
Vocal, Tech House
Starting from 10:00pm 
 
Saturday L’orientale 27th April
Dina El Wadidi
World Music
ُEzz El Ostool
Raii Music
Starting from 9:00pm
 
Jazz Sunday 28th April
Adam Miller Group
Vocal/ Funk/ Jazz
Starting from 9:00pm
 
Special Monday 29th April
Soopar Lox/ DJ Ouzo
Live House/ Uplifting House
Starting from 10:00pm
 
Funky Tuesday 30th April
International Jazz Day Celebration
An Evening of Jazz ft. Cairo’s Finest
World Jazz
Starting from 9:00pm
 
For Reservations
+20 1 0688 04764

Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) events: April 21-28, 2013

The D-CAF is in its final week with events coming to a close on April 28. Make sure you catch some of the events in the heart of Downtown this April!
 
Cancellation of Sunday film & talk on "Underground/On the Surface" on Sunday April 21
Monday April 22


Face the Vitrine An installation in a public storefront where artists Ganzeer and Yasmin ElAyat explore how people react to being observed when the act is exposed. Passersby become involuntary participants. Installation continues till April 28. Times 10 AM to 5 PM and 6 PM to Midnight daily

Face the Vitrine

The Thing Next Door Film screening. Dir: Antje Hubert. Germany 2012, 96 min, nonviolent protest against nuclear power plant. German with Arabic subtitles – Falaki Theater, 7 PM


Tuesday April 23
Face the Vitrine
Tous au Larzac Film screening. directed by Christian Rouaud, France 2011, 118 min, French with English and Arabic subtitles – Falaki Theater, 7 PM

Wednesday April 24
Face the Vitrine

I’m Nobody’s Shadow
by Marion & Ghazi (France-Tunisia) – combining live, interactive video and shadow theatre performance – Hotel Viennoise, 4 PM and again at 6 PM

AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, directed by Alison Klayman, USA 2012, 91 min, portrait of Chinese artist/activist. English and Mandarin with Arabic and English subtitles – Oriental Hall, AUC Tahrir Campus, 7 PM.
Followed by talk with director Alison Klayman

Thursday April 25
Face the Vitrine
I’m Nobody’s Shadow
by Marion & Ghazi (France-Tunisia) – combining live, interactive video and shadow theatre performance – Hotel Viennoise, 4 PM and again at 6 PM

Le Prince Sequestre

By Compagnie L’entreprise (France), written and directed by François Cervantes. Performance in French with Arabic subtitles. Falaki Theatre on Thursday April 25 and Friday April 26. 8:00 PM – Duration: 60 minutes. Ticket price: 20 LE (10 LE for students)

10pm Emel Mathlouthi + Dina El Wedidi (Egypt) neo-folk
(Tunisia) folk/electro/other – Qasr El Nil Theatre - among the most promising and strongest female Arab-world vocalists
Friday April 26
Face the Vitrine

Alice
, a site-specific theatre show by Sawsan Bou Khaled and Hussein Baydoun (Lebanon). Nightmares of a young woman turn into material reality. Arabic – Hotel Viennoise 6pm

Saturday April 27
Face the Vitrine

WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT a play by Nassim Soleimanpour (Iran), performed by Sayed Ragab Performance in Arabic -
Falaki Theatre, 7 PM. Tickets: 20 LE (students 10 LE)

Sunday April 28

Face the Vitrine

I’m Nobody’s Shadow
by Marion & Ghazi (France-Tunisia) – combining live, interactive video and shadow theatre performance – Hotel Viennoise, 4 PM and again at 6 PM

Alice, a site-specific theatre show by Sawsan Bou Khaled and Hussein Baydoun (Lebanon). Arabic – Hotel Viennoise 6pm. Free.

Edutainment:EuroMed Conference: Ideas and Practices regarding Cultural Exchange in the Mediterranean Рclosed door event organised in collaboration with Fondation R̩n̩ Seydoux (France) - Public debate coordinated by the Ren̩ Seydoux Foundation
Oriental Hall, AUC Tahrir Campus, 3:00 PM


FINALE NIGHT. MAKE YOUR MOVE dance competition. By invitations only. 8 pm.

Please check d-caf.org for more.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

WARREN NEIDICH Performance with 22 Cairo-based artists at the Townhouse Gallery


On Saturday April 20, 2013 Townhouse Gallery presents, in its First Floor Space, How do you translate a text that is not a text? How do you perform a score that is not a score? — a seven-hour performance orchestrated by the Berlin and Los Angeles-based artist Warren Neidich. The event will start at 2:00 PM with the performance of Michelle Rounds.

During his month-long residency at Townhouse, the artist has been making a series of graphic, abstract musical scores that use images instead of notes, based on found newspaper articles and images. This material forms a fragmented archive of the recent political events occurring in Cairo. The material is then transferred upon musical staffs with scotch tape producing a paradoxical and hybrid drawing/score.
The staffs are armatures upon which disjointed texts, images and colors are activated. Twenty-two Cairo-based musicians (spanning from classical oud and tabla players to electronic sound artists) will be invited to the First Floor Gallery to read and react to these word-shattering images and texts in an improvisational manner, leading to similarly abstracted, experimental live performances. This experiment is intended to free the individual musical performances from the formal language of written notational music, and in so doing, suggest broader possibilities for a generalized politically emancipated communication.
Participating performers: Hashem Aly, Yvonne Buchheim, Bahaa El-Ansary, Omar El-Deeb, Ahmed Safi El Din, Mahmoud El Saghir, Nadah El Shazly, Shahir Eschander, Mohamed Abdelfattah Ibrahim, Ashiq Khondker Wael Leheta, Ayman Mabrouk, Adam Miller, Amr Mohamed, Koen Nutters, Mohamed Refaat, Michelle Rounds, Alaa Hussein Saber, Ibrahim Salah, Hassam Shehata, Nadah El Shazly, Mahmoud Tarik, Esam Abdelhamid, John Verlenden, Robert Williams, Hassan Zaky, Khaled Kaddal, Ayman Asfour.

Warren Neidich is a post-Conceptual artist based in Berlin and Los Angeles. Art before Philosophy not After. Currently his practice has been directed towards noise compositions as neurobiological modifiers. Recent awards include The Fulbright Specialist Program, Fine Arts Category, University of Cairo, 2013 and The Murray and Vickie Pepper Distinguished Visiting Artist and Scholar Award, Pitzer College, 2012.
Selected exhibitions include The Whitney Museum of Art, New York City, P.S.1, MOMA, Long Island City, Ludwig Museum, Koln, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, Walker Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Haus de Kulteren der Welt, Berlin and the MAK, Vienna.


For more information and updates please visit the facebook page of the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/431543463607455/

Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art
10 Nabrawy Street off Champollion Street, Downtown - Cairo  Tel: +20 2 2576 8086

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

KARIM ZIAD (Algeria) and RAMI ATALLAH Quintet at the Genaina Theatre


Culture Resources presents Algerian artist Karim Ziad and an opening act by Rami Attalah’s Quintet, at El Genaina Theater in Al Azhar Park - Salah Salem Rd on Thursday April 18, 2013 at 8:00 PM.

After the great success of Ghalia Benali’s concert in the first week of the 2013 summer program, El Genaina Theater presents, for the first time, a concert by the Algerian artist Karim Ziad and his band. The band presents fusion of Oriental, Berber, and Western music. In 1989, Karim moved to Paris seeking fame, where he performed with Cheb Mami, the National Orchestra of Berbes, and the guitar player Nguyen Le. Now, Karim is one of the most popular percussionists in Paris. Karim Ziad’s performance will mark the release of his new album.
The concert will also feature Rami Attalah Quintet in the opening act. Rami Atallah is the youngest jazz pianist on the professional musical scene in Egypt. Inspired by French and Latin music (especially Brazilian music), Rami has composed over thirty songs. He also composed the soundtrack for a documentary produced by the UN.

Ticket price 20 EGP.
Please note that smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited inside the theater.
For more info visit www.mawred.org or call 02 23637081
You can also follow Culture Resources on facebook & twitter.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

"IL PADRE E LO STRANIERO" movie screening at the presence of actor AMR WAKED


On Thursday April 18, 2013 at 7:00 PM the theatre of the Italian Cultural Institute in Zamalek will host a special screening of the movie "IL PADRE E LO STRANIERO" Drama, 110 min. Italy, 2010, Italian with Arabic subtitles, a film by Ricky Tognazzi with Ksenia Rappoport, Alessandro Gassmann, Amr Waked, Leo Gullotta, Nadine Labaki.
The actor Amr Waked will be present at the event.

From the novel by Giancarlo De Cataldo. In a Rome with echoes of the Middle East, a friendship develops between two very different men, the Italian Diego and the Arab Walid. The two men bond through the shared love for their disabled sons, who both attend the same rehabilitation centre. Through his relationship with Walid, Diego will question the meaning of 'different' and 'normal' and how he has lived his life until that point.

The film will be proposed to the IIC public with Arabic subtitles. The subs are part of the work of RE/TRANS group, belonging to RE/ACT project, composed by Ain Shams University students coordinated, in the Italian translation, by Sara Essam and Sahar Salah.

Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival events this week


The month long festival of Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is
going till 28 April, so you still have two more weeks to catch up on
events. Here is the full program of events at www.d-caf.org and more
information can be found on Facebook

Theatre:
THE GREAT WAR by Dutch company Hotel Modern - Tuesday April 16 and Wednesday April 17 - 8 pm. Falaki Theatre.
WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT by Nassim Soleimanpour - Thursday April 18 - 8 pm - Falaki Theatre. Performed by Ramsi Lehner in English.
Friday April 19 - 8 pm - Falaki Theatre. Performed by Salwa Mohamed Aly in Arabic
No rehearsals. No director. No set. A different actor reads the script cold for the first time at each performance. Will you participate?
Ticket prices for plays: 20 LE (Students: 10 LE)

Music:
SADAT (Egypt) serves up music shaabi style and ElRass & Munma (Lebanon) perform
hiphop at the Scherazade Club - 10 PM
Ticket prices : 30 LE

Film:
Non-violent resistance in film: Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (USA), Tousau Larzac (France), and The Thing Next Door (Germany) screened back-to-back at Radio Cinema - 10 PM to 3 AM with individual screenings of films through the following week.
Entrance FREE. Also free tea and coffee available during the screening.

Visual Arts:
SMSlingshot (Germany)
Wednesday April 17 to Saturday April 20  at Cafe under Borsa 10, Elwi street, FREE.

Edutainment:
Launch of PreFormance: a digital toolkit for culture professionals. Saturday April 20. Goethe
Institute
FREE.

For full calendar of events (till April 28) and more information visit www.d-caf.org and https://www.facebook.com/dcaf.egypt

Monday, April 15, 2013

DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK at The Cairo Lecture in Maadi


The Cairo Lectures is a program hosted by St. John’s Church in Maadi, since 2003, that brings to Cairo an individual of academic, artistic, literary or religious distinction to give a central presentation to an
international audience on a subject on the intersection of faith and culture.

On Thursday April 18, 2013 at 8:00 PM, THE CAIRO LECTURE will be held by David D. Kirkpatrick, The New York Times Cairo Bureau Chief & Middle East Correspondent. The title of the lecture is “The Arab Spring and the Egyptian Revolution Two Years Later: What Are the Chances This Works Out OK?”.

The event will be held at St. John’s Church / Maadi (at the corner of Port Said Rd and Rd 17).

For more information: www.stjohnschurchmaadi.org / tel. 2358-3085


Sunday, April 14, 2013

THE BOILING SEA - Documentary & Discussion with the Director at the Italian Cultural Institute


The Italian Cultural Institute in Zamalek, in collaboration with the Scientific Office of the Italian Embassy in Cairo presents THE BOILING SEA (Italian with Arabic subtitles) by Eugenio Manghi on Monday April 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM in the Theatre of the Italian Cultural Institute. The documentary will be presented by the director, Eugenio Manghi.

The Boiling Sea is a 74-minute documentary about the changes that are occurring in the Mediterranean, and about the implications on the fish life and on human activities, but also on the changes that these activities of man are producing in the sea. The film speaks about the 624 new species populating the Mediterranean that have come from other seas and other climates but that have adapted to the Mediterranean because of the changes taking place, like the rise in temperature. The images in the documentary go from the Middle East, to Italy, and with spectacular, highly technical shots, they show both the good and the bad of the Mediterranean.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

OMM KOLTHOUM by BAHGORY at Mashrabia Gallery


MASHRABIA GALLERY cordially invites to attend the opening of the exhibition " Omm Kolthoum" by Bahgory, on Sunday April 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM. The exhibition runs until Sunday May 5.

This exhibition is dedicated exclusively to the survival of an icon who touched the souls of generations of Egyptians and who has lost none of her lustre with the passage of time: Omm Kolthoum. Bahgory has been working for years on the perfect portrait of Omm Kolthoum. So it is not surprising that we find her again and again at the heart of his exhibitions, a central figure, alone or in the middle of the orchestra, with her beloved, indispensable musicians supporting and enveloping her, blending with her clothes, melting into her skin. But in most paintings the singer is alone, and her solitary presence invades the surface of the canvas, releasing an energy that seems to want to break out of its physical confines. Regardless of our judgement - extremely subjective after all - on the painter’s success in capturing his favourite model, what remains, to our delight, is the wonderful display of all the steps he took to get there.

Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art
8, Champollion St., Downtown - Cairo
Phone 02 25784494 - Mobile 0100 1704554
Opening hours: Daily except Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
www.mashrabiagallery.org
 

Upcoming events at the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival


Herebelow you'll find some remarkable events presented these coming days in the framework of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival.

Theatre: WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT by Nassim Soleimanpour (Iran)
No rehearsals. No director. No set. A different actor reads the script cold for the first time at each performance. Will you participate?
Falaki Theatre, AUC Downtown Campus, Falaki St. - Saturday April 13 with Khaled Abol Naga in Arabic (Will also be performed in English by Ramsi Lehner on Thirsday April 18) - 8:00 PM - Duration: 50 to 70 min - Ticket price: 20 LE (Students: 10 LE)

Visual Arts: AUGMENTED AIRSPACE by Dia Hamed (Egypt) and Lot Amoros (Spain)
See Cairo from the air whilst standing on the ground! Watch live footage of the city augmented by a digital skin layer and explore the possible uses of air as a medium of expression.
At Friends Cafe, Elwi St., behind the Egyptian stock exchange - April 11-15, 6:00 PM - Duration: 30 minutes - FREE

Film: BLIND AMBITION by Hassan Khan (Egypt, 2012). Arabic. Middle East Premiere.
Shot entirely on a on a mobile phone and screened last year at the prestigious dOCUMENTA (13) exhibition, “Blind Ambition” will have its Middle East Premiere at the historic Radio Cinema. Followed by Hassan Khan in Conversation with writer, Ahmed Naje, Arabic with English translation.
Radio Cinema - Sunday April 14 - 7:00 PM - Duration: 46 minutes, FREE

Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is currently taking place in venues all over Downtown Cairo with a varied program of theatre, music, visual arts, film, workshops and dance. The full program is available at www.d-caf.org

You can also check the facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/dcaf.egypt

Friday, April 12, 2013

ABDEL FATTAH EL BADRI at Al Kahila Art Gallery


Al Kahila Art Gallery has the honor to invite you to the opening of the art exhibition "South & Nubia" by the artist Abdel Fattah El Badri.
The artist will exhibit his new Nubian inspired paintings, tracing the contours of this ancient southern land and celebrating the distinguishing features of its people.

The opening will take place on Sunday April 14, 2013 at 6:00 PM. The exhibition will run until April 28.
The gallery is open from 11:00 AM till 9:00 PM and is closed on Fridays.

 

MOSCARS AL-HURRIA Film Festival


Sorry for being late but news about this festival reached me just now.

The 3rd edition of MOSCARS AL-HURRIA FILM FESTIVAL, organized by 3738life group, takes place at Heliopolis Library from April 12 to April 17, 2013.
The Festival covers all fields of film production: Long and Short Feature Films, Documentary Films, Animation, Cartoons, Video art, etc...
As the organizers do not receive any external funding, Moscars Al-Hurria Film Festival is based on self-financing and self-help volunteering, without any sponsors. It is considered to be the biggest Independent Cinematic Event in The Middle East.

This year 103 films from more than 25 countries around the world will be screened. Participating countries are Egypt, America, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Colombia, Macedonia, the Philippines, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Portugal, England, Turkey, Bulgaria, Pakistan.

For more information click here to be redirected to the festival website.
For the screening schedule, in Arabic and English, click here.

BOLLYWOOD DANCE WORKSHOP at El Sawi


A Bollywood Dance Workshop will be conducted by famous choreographer Gilles Chuyen in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Center in Zamalek on Saturday April 13, 2013 from 12:00 to 3:00 PM.
The idea behind the Bollywood Dance workshops is to communicate the energy and fun that imbibes Indian cinema. Gilles Chuyen will teach the participants the remarkable techniques of Bollywood Dance Style. The workshop will be presented free of cost to a spontaneous audience of all ages and interest levels. 

Gilles Chuyen - trained in France in Folk, Modern Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary dance styles - has been working in India since 1994 with various dance forms such as Chhau Mayurbhanj, Kathak and Bharata Natyam. His repertoire includes contemporary solo works such as Rasa - the dance of emotions with which he toured France and India, and many group pieces such as Colours, Prakriti, Devotions & Dharma with his dance company In Step.
His Bollywood career includes ad campaigns, stage shows in China, Hong Kong, the U.K., Australia (choreography for the Sunidhi Chauhan's show as the Finale of the Art Festival of the Commonwealth Games - Melbourne 2006) and South Africa. He is the choreographer and artistic director of Bollywood Love Story, a Musical directed by Sanjoy Roy which has been touring Switzerland, Austria, Germany, South Africa, Spain, China, Japan, Russia and Italy for the last few years. His association with Bollywood comprises also of work on feature films as a choreographer and actor – dancer.
Gilles has been teaching Bollywood dance style extensively in India, U.K, U.S.A and South Africa

For more information visit http://indiabythenile.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/443471102407377/

Thursday, April 11, 2013

INDIA BY THE NILE, a festival of Performing and Visual Arts


A true feast for everything that's Indian, the festival INDIA BY THE NILE will bring to Cairo the many facets of Indian Culture through music, dance, literature, food, and more.

The festival will take place in different venues around Cairo from April 13 to May 13, 2013.
For detailed information, click here.

You can also click on the image of the flyer below to enlarge it and have an overview of the program. 


REDA AL WAKIL and PASCALE ROZIER at the Manasterly Palace


Winner of the Placido Domingo competition in Paris in 1994, bass-baritone Reda Al Wakil, and renowned French pianist Pascale Rozier, will perform at the Manasterly Palace on Sunday April 21, 2013 at 8:00 PM.

For a detailed biography and complete programme of the evening click here.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

EL TANBURA concert and new album presentation


El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to attend El Tanbura Band concert on Thursday April 11, 2013 at 9:00 PM at El Dammah Theater (formerly El Tanbura Hall).
On this occasion El Tanbura, just back from their concert tour in Tunisia, will release their new album, "January 26th", featuring resistance songs from Port Said from 1956 to the present.

About El Tanbura: A quarter of a century ago, a group of Damma and Simismia artists in the city of Port Said undertook the responsibility to collect, revive and preserve this musical legacy which was threatened with extinction. El Tanbura band was born out of their response to Zakaria Ibrahim's call for establishing a band to achieve those goal.
In its first five years, the band successfully managed to collect 20 hours of that precious legacy which was orally transmitted through successive generations but which had never before been documented. This material is now preserved in writing, recording, video, and photographic form. However, it is the live performances which have continued over 24 years and through which the band presents regular, weekly shows on the beach of Port Said that ensures the continuing vitality of this heritage and its relevance to audiences. These shows are presented free to the people of the city as it was their forefathers who contributed to the creation of this special heritage.
The band also presents two annual festivals held in the city streets: one is held in the Spring and the other on Victory Day, the 23rd of December. This latter event commemorates the peoples' victory over the tri-partite attack of France, Britain and Israel in 1956. The resistance songs which the people composed during the attack and after have become an important part of the band's repertoire. The band has continued to compose new patriotic songs for subsequent situations and events, such as the on-going Israeli occupation of Palestine, the American invasion of Iraq, the 50th anniversary of the nationalization of the Suez Canal, the war of 1956, the revolution of the 25th January (during which the band often performed in Tahrir square) and, most recently, the first anniversary of this same revolution for which they composed the song, "Addi El Dalma" ("The Darkness has Passed").
In 2003, under the direction and encouragement of El Mastaba Center for Egyptian folk Music, the members of El Tanbura established a school in Port Said to transfer their skills and heritage to a new generation. Students between the ages of 6 and 16 learn the art of singing, percussion, instruments and dancing, becoming active players in their shared heritage. Young Tanbura, is managed by Mohsen El Ashry, one of El Tanbura's star simsimia players, and this band of youngsters has developed a high level of professionalism to the point where they perform for audiences in Port Said, Cairo, Alexandria and other places.

Biography by El Mastaba Center For Egyptian Folk Music

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, tickets by reservation 20 EGP. For reservations write to info@el-mastaba.org or call 011 50 99 5354/0223926768/011 243 66 241. Note: The reservation will be cancelled at 9:00 PM. Door opens at 8:30 PM
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org

Sunday, April 7, 2013

EL GENEINA PROGRAM for the months of April and May 2013


Al Mawred Al Thaqafy (Culture Resources) has come up with another interesting program that will enrich your Thursday evenings for the next couple of months. All concerts will take place at the Geneina Theater. Details herebelow.

Thursday, April 11: Ghalia Benali - Tunisia
Tickets: 20 EGP
Thursday, April 18: Opening Act: Rami Attalah Quintet followed by Karim Ziad Quintet – Algeria / France
Tickets: 20 EGP
Thursday, April 25: Opening Act: Shawar3na followed by Autostrad - Jordan
Tickets: 20 EGP
Thursday, May 02: Opening Act: Maii Waleed followed by Akher Zapheer - Jordan
Tickets: 20 EGP
Thursday, May 09: Opening Act: Ahmad Maher followed by Charbel Rouhana & the Beirut Oriental Ensemble - Lebanon
Tickets: 20 EGP
Thursday, May 16: Youssra El Hawary - Egypt
Tickets: 10 EGP
Friday, May 17: Wust El Balad - Egypt
Tickets: 20 EGP
Friday, May 24: Mariam Saleh - Egypt
Tickets:10 EGP
Thursday, May 30: Opening Act: Darb Al Ahmar Art School followed by Percussion Show - Egypt
Tickets: 20 EGP

Tickets are now available online at ticketsmarche.com

All concerts start at 8.00 PM
Al Azhar Park - Salah Salem Rd. – Darassa
For more info please visit Culture Resources website: www.mawred.org or call: 02 23637081
Please note that smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited inside the theatre

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

DIGITAL ARTS FESTIVAL "DI-EGY FEST 0.1"


The first Digital Art Festival in Egypt is currently taking place and will run until Wednesday April 10, 2013.

The Exhibitions and workshops will take place in the Gezira Art Centre, Manasterly Palace, The British Council Gallery, and Passage 35. The Conference will take place in the German University in Cairo and the Kids digital activities in Artellwa art space. Digital Egypt Festival Di-Egy Fest 0.1 is an intensive 15 days festival for an international group of professionals. Its mission is to create an environment designed to maximize exchanges, stimulate new ideas, encourage experimentations and produce different activities.

The arts team in the British Council has worked closely with the festival organisers and there is significant UK input in the conference and workshops from academic staff at Plymouth University and digital curators from Curated Place in Manchester. Part of the exhibition takes place in the British Council premises in Agouza and is open to the public.

For more information about  DI-EGY Festival, click here.


Monday, April 1, 2013

The week at the Cairo Jazz Club


CJC welcomes the month of April on a blue note with Bluenotes, performing all of their blues hits on Tuesday April 2, 2013. Taking the stage next are OFFBEAT performing some of the most famous rock covers, slightly off beat but totally on point.
The following day, Wednesday April 3, 2013 CJC adds Nour's saxophone to Ramy's boogie grooves.
Presenting a whole unique phase of upper Egyptian folklore with a modern blend is Basheer who will be performing on Saturday April 6, 2013.

Weekly Schedule:
Monday 1st April: Soopar Lox (Live House)/DJ Mars (Uplifting Tech House), starting from 10:00pm
Tuesday 2nd April: Bluenotes (Upbeat Blues), starting from 8:00pm/OFFBEAT (Rock), starting from 10:00pm
Wednesday 3rd April: DJ Ramy ft. Nour on the Saxophone (Boogie Night), starting from 10:00pm
Thursday 4th April: Hany Must (Indie)/ Deja’vu (Funk, Pop, Blues)/Spunky Dynamitek (Funk, Rock, Dance Floor Hits), starting from 8:00pm
Friday 5th April: To be confirmed
Saturday 6th April: Basheer (Modern Folklore), starting from 9:00pm
Sunday 7th April: Eleonora Iannotta (Latin Jazz), starting from 9:00pm

For Reservations: +20 1 0688 0476
Check www.cairojazzclub.com for all CJC info, schedule, menus, and much more.