EGYPTIAN DANCE SHOW
FUNDRAISING FOR BREAKTHROUGH BREAST
CANCER
Diane and Ellie invite you to meet...
'The Characters of the Moulid'
This modern Egyptian dance show is inspired by a traditional festival. We're raising money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Saturday 20th February 2010
Dorchester Corn Exchange
Doors open at7pm.
Bazaar, bar and after-show party.
Tickets £10 from Diane on 01305 813179 or Dorchester Tourist Information
Centre.
For further info: www.raqssharqidorset.co.uk
What will the event involve?
The evening will begin with a dance show featuring 9 dancers from across the UK and one from Milan!
Many of the dancers are teachers of Egyptian dance and all are experienced performers. The show will demonstrate the wide range of music and styles of Egyptian dance, some familiar (belly-dance)' and some which are rarely seen outside Egypt.
Also during the evening there will be a bazaar selling costumes, jewellery and scarves for the dance. There will be a licensed bar and after the show you'll get the opportunity to try out some moves with the performers.
Who are Diane and Ellie?
Diane and Ellie are two Dorset based dancers who are passionate about Egyptian dance. They have both studied for some years with notable teachers in the UK, Europe and Egypt.
Their love of the dance has inspired an alliance to further their creative ideas, the most recent of which is this show. They also aim to raise the profile of Egyptian dance in Dorset, foster good relations with dancers of other styles of Arabic dance and bring guest Raqs Sharqi teachers to Dorset.
Their work has been recognised by the Raqs Sharqi Society, who made them both associates in 2009. Their previous shows, 'Leyla Kebyra' (The Big Night)' in December 2006 and 'Ayoum Saeeda' (Happy Days)' in 2008 have raised over £2000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
For more info on Raqs Sharqi please see www.raqssharqidorset.co.uk
What is a Moulid?
The Moulid is a community ritual that has been practiced since dynastic times.
It is a festival that brings Egyptians of all faiths in a village or town together for music, dance, feasting, and celebrating in the name of a local saint. Fairground side shows, clowns, processions and stalls selling candy-floss are found alongside Sufi displays of faith, zikrs and people looking for blessings and healing.
What's the show all about?
Our main inspiration for the show was the Operetta 'Al-Leila Al-Kaibira' by Salah Jahin, a colourful tribute to the Moulid. A full production was available at You Tube until recently. We also drew on inspiration from books such as 'Mulid! Carnivals of Faith' by Tarek Atia and Sherif Sonbol. Finally, our own experiences of Egypt and Moulids attended inspired us to create our own tribute to the Egyptian Moulid.
Come and join us and help to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer!