Italian writer DACIA MARAINI in Cairo

The famous writer DACIA MARAINI, author of novels, short stories, theatrical plays, poems, autobiographical tales, and essays will present the Arabic version of the book "La lunga vita di Marianna Ucrìa" edited by Sharkiat and published in Italy in 1990.
With this book Maraini has been awarded the "Supercampiello" and "Book of the year 1990" prizes. Roberto Faenza has been inspired by this book to direct the movie "Marianna Ucrìa". The Arabic translation of the book will be presented by prof. Khairy Douma, professor of Contemporary Arabic Literature at Cairo University.
The event will take place on Monday June 3, 2013 at 7:00 PM in the Theatre of the Italian Cultural Institute in Zamalek.

DACIA MARAINI: I TELL YOU A POEM
In the framework of the project "Kalam le-l shabab/Words of Youth: Youth, Creativity and Poetry in Today’s Egypt", co-funded by the European Union, Dacia Maraini will participate in the workshop "I tell you a poem". During the event Maraini will read her poems to groups of students, young poets from Cairo and the general public.
This event will take place on Tuesday May 4, 2013 at 11:00 AM in the Theatre of the Italian Cultural Institute in Zamalek.

"A NIGHT AT KARLSTEIN" movie screening

Within the framework of the cultural events organized by the Visegrád Group, The Embassy of the Czech Republic is presenting the Czech musical film "A NIGHT AT KARLSTEIN" (1973) on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 8:00 PM in the Office of the Hungarian Cultural Counselor - Balassi institute, 13, Gawad Hosni St (off Kasr El Nil St.), 2nd floor, Downtown, Cairo.
FREE ADMISSION and ENGLISH SUBTITLES

"A NIGHT AT KARLSTEIN" is a 1973 Czech musical film directed by Zdeněk Podskalský, based on an 1884 play by Jaroslav Vrchlický. Although established almost a century ago, even today this lovely play about Emperor Charles IV and Elisabeth of Pomerania, which was the first woman who violated her husband's ban and entered in a male disguise to Karlstejn, enjoys great popularity with audiences of all generations. Director Podskalský tried to keep the old form of musical substance, while still retaining its historic atmosphere of comedy dialogues and charming archaisms. Cast: Karel Höger, Jana Brejchová, Vlastimil Brodský, Jaroslav Marvan, Miloš Kopecký, Waldemar Matuška, Slávka Budínová, Daniela Kolářová, Jaromír Hanzlík etc.

Synopsis: Charles IV, Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor, has built Karlstejn castle to house the crown jewels. More importantly, it is a place of relaxation and meditation, so no women are permitted, and no politics are to be discussed. His young wife misses him, and hearing of the prohibition, resolves to sneak in for a night. At the same time, a country girl needs to prove she has spent one night at Karlstejn to get her potential fiance's father to agree to let her marry him. Both women dress up as pages. Things get complicated when foreign dignitaries come to discuss politics, the queen is the page guarding Charles' bedroom, and the country girl is keeping watch on the walls of the castle.

"DIKOTOMOUS" by DOMINIQUE MAHONEY & KENZIE KINGMAN at Al-Kahila Gallery

The exhibition "DIKOTOMOUS" by American-born but Egyptian-raised artists DOMINIQUE MAHONEY and KENZIE KINGMAN opens on Wednesday May 29, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Al-Kahila Gallery. The exhibition will run until June 10.

The two female artists Dominique Mahoney and Kenzie Kingman depict the existence of two worlds through Art. The inspiration behind the themes comes from classic stories, fairytales, and icons, and resides under the umbrella of modern pop culture and current affairs.
It is a depiction of two worlds that coexist. The way they cajole, bolster, and illuminate each other’s strengths, diminishes the significance of the weaknesses.
The artists chose to use only 4 colours: red, white, gold, and black, the representation of the Egyptian flag.
With hybrid backgrounds the artists experienced a cosmopolitan upbringing that allowed them to combine and adapt to different principles, views, and philosophies. Opposing styles on each canvas results in the creation of a series of hybrid compositions. Dichotomy is the splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts.

For more information visit www.dikotomous.com

THE PERCUSSION SHOW & DARB AL AHMAR ARTS SCHOOL at the Geneina Theatre

El Genaina Theater presents a concert by PERCUSSION SHOW on Thursday May 30, 2013 at 8:00 PM. Percussion Show consists of five Egyptian percussionists who are united by their infinite beat passion. They bring you a world of rhythm and energy using percussion and beats and their own bodies.

The DARB AL AHMAR ARTS SCHOOL TROUPE will also present a percussion performance by students between the ages of 6 and 18. Students enrolled at Darb Al Ahmar Arts School are taught circus arts and brass instruments in addition to percussion. They have previously performed at the Genaina Theater as well as at the opening of CirCairo Festival in 2012, among many other events.
Tickets: 20EGP. Tickets are available online at: ticketsmarche.com

Al Azhar Park - Salah Salem Rd. – Darassa
For more info please visit: www.mawred.org or call 02 23637081
Please Note that smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited inside the theater.

"Multiple Kafka", an exhibition by Czech artist JIRI SLIVA

"Multiple Kafka", an exhibition of litographs and etchings by the famous Czech illustrator JIRI SLIVA is currently on display at the Arthropologie Gallery, 13A El-Maraashly Street, Zamalek.
The exhibition runs until June 6, 2013 and it is opened daily from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and from 5:00 to 10:00 PM. Closed on Sundays.

To know more about the artist and the exhibition click here to be redirected to the excellent article prepared by Sara Elkamel for Al-Ahram.

The KAFAFA TROUPE at El Dammah Theatre

El Mastaba Center for Folk Music presents for the first time the KAFAFA TROUPE from Upper Egypt, led by singer Abdel Wahed al-Banna, on Thursday May 23, 2013 at El Dammah Theatre starting at 9:00 PM.

"Kafafa" (from "kaf" or "palm") takes its name from the clapping rhythms of the singers and dancers. The "Kaf" performed in southern Upper Egypt in the villages around Aswan, Luxor and Qena mostly relies on a strong use of heritage and the singer's ability to improvise. The kafafa, who dance in front of the singer moving in one rhythm while usually clapping their hands, are those who offer the singer the topic of his performance. Traditionally performed at weddings, the kafafa come from the audience. Their task is to sing one sentence directed at the singer, who is referred to as "the artist." The sentence is a lead which inspires the singer's lyrics to flow. Throughout the performance the kafafa can offer the singer more than one topic. The lead inspiring the artist usually comes as a riddle, explains an expert on the art of Kaf, Ahmed Abu-Khnegar: "The sentence sang by the kafafa refer to a topic or a known folk story which the group has agreed the singer should tackle in his lyrics. If they feel he got the topic wrong and that's not what they wanted him to sing about they can go on repeating the sentence until he gets it right" said Khnegar.

The Kaf borrows from and merges other folk art forms of the area, including Moulid, Namim, Waw, and El-Sira. It refers to stories from the area's heritage and tackles all aspects of life and culture including morals, love, hate, and (more recently) politics and other concepts. In the past, before Kaf became a professional form of art, a woman used to dance during the performance.
Traditionally, melodic instruments were not used, only percussion instruments. The addition of the Oud (lute) is a recent innovation as is the absence of the female dancer. The common melodic modes (maqam) used in the singing are Rast and Ajam.

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, by reservation 20 EGP. For reservations write to info@el-mastaba.org or call 01150995354 or 0223926768. Reservations will be cancelled at 9:00 PM.
Door opens at 8:30 PM
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org

MICHELLE ROUNDS with AMRO SALAH TRIO at El Sawi

Treat yourself with an evening of exquisite jazz on Friday May 24, 2013 at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek with the Amro Salah Trio featuring Australian singer Michelle Rounds. Concert starts at 7:00 PM.

In the end of 2010 Pianist/Composer AMRO SALAH decided that it’s about time to perform his Jazzy ideas and compositions in public! Putting together his first Jazz Trio with 2 of the finest Jazz musicians in Cairo, Ehab Tass (Bass), also a life mate playing together since teenage years, and the“ technically shocking drummer ” Ahmed Hesham who’s at the same time the drummer of EFTEKASAT .
The Trio gave its debut performance at the Wisdom Hall in SAKIA inviting Jazz Vocalist Noha Fekry who appears frequently with the trio as a guest. The rare combination of such musicians has led hopefully to pleasant results of Jazz that mixes new age, acid and classical with Oriental, Latin and Bebop turning each live show to an exotic voyage.
Amro Salah Trio has performed at Cairo Jazz Festival in 2011 and 2012 with the Dutch legendary drummer Han Bennink , also performed at Cairo Opera House with Italian Singer, songwriter, actress and percussionist Elisa Nocita.
Musicians: Amro Salah: Piano, Ehab Tass: Bass, Ahmed Hesham: Drums, Michelle Rounds: Guest Vocal
www.amrosalah.com

MICHELLE ROUNDS is renowned throughout Australasia and the Pacific as one of their finest jazz vocalists ever, and has released numerous albums both in collaboration and on her own. Michelle has presented many jazz concerts throughout the world and is admired for her courageous and versatile scatting, more in the form of instrumental voice solos – she has a very wide vocal range and continually delights her audiences with the creativity expressed in this range – Michelle is a very fine and creative jazz singer of all styles - ballads, latin jazz, swing, be-bop, Mississippi Delta Blues, blues and waltzes.
Coming from a family of musicians, Rounds grew up surrounded by the sounds of music, growing up listening to Julie London, Marion Montgomery and Nat King Cole. It is her exuberant presence, confident, funny, and comfortable that is reflected in her performance. Her body language, swinging smoothly with each melody, sweeps her audience from one field to the next.