Untitled - Arab Center of Washington

Community Page
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2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
Letter from the Governor
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
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Festival Supporters
2011 Arab Festival
Volunteers and
supporters
Volunteers/Recognition
Thank you to our generous institutional funders,
business sponsors and individual donors who
made the 2011 Arab Festival possible! We
couldn’t have done it without you.
Bill Holt
Festival Controller
Rasha Qamheyeh
Stage Manager
FESTIVAL STAFF
Al Parisi
Festival Manager
SEATTLE CENTER STAFF
Festival Coordinator
Jennifer Basiliko
Event Services Representative
Food & Beverage
Barbara Bryant
Public Relations/Marketing
Su Nelson
Mohammed Kaddoura
Amer Moghraibi
PROGRAMMING
Su Nelson, Chair
Patricia Auch
Afifi Durr
Mona Stucki
Fashion Show
Maria Moreno
Patricia Auch
Haneen Ahmad
Arab Suite/Freedom Stage
Mona Stucki
Ghada Ellithy
Su Nelson
Fundraising/Marketing
Mona Stucki, Lead
Rachel Peterson
Hanady Kader
Garrett Amini
Annette Heller
Ibrahim Soudy
Tarik Rahmani
Tara Cox
Karen Lund Tabakha
Reham El-khayat
Rena Alkaisy
Abdul Hawasli
Mish Mish
Program Guide
Kemeya Harper
Graphic Designer
Angela Manke
Program Assistant
Steve Sneed
Cultural Programming Director
Exhibitors
Food
Harissa Mediterranean Cuisine
La Jitana
Coffee
Majlis Café
Booths
A Crafty Arab
Arab Center of Washington Information
American Friends Service Committee
Anita West
Caraven-Serai Travel
Arab Alliance Chamber Commerce of
Washington
Dar Salaam
Edmonds Community College
Everett Community College
Henna Dervish
Kasbah Moroccan Restaurant
Kuffiyeh Clothing International
One World Now
Palestinian Heritage Group
Palestine Online Store
Café Palestino
Petra Bistro
Rachel Corrie Foundation
Seattle Police Department
World Arts Access
Abdul Hawasli
Cover Art
Donors
Su Nelson
Copy
Mr. Wael Baha Eldine
Vendor Booths
Elaine Nonneman
Huda Giddens
Rasha Qamheyeh
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Abed Alhadi Basheer (Hakeem), Chair
Kara Mochan
$1000 and above
$500 to $999
$200 to $499
Mona Stucki
Huda Giddens
Rasha Qamheyeh
Nagwa Tamimi
Nadia Dahleh
Sharon Northrup
Ibrahim Soudy
$100 to $199
Farihan Bushnaq
Robert & Evette Hackman
Samiha Korshed
Heather Kelley
Sihem Di Cristo
Judy Tassone
Liz Serrette
Kathleen Daly
Sandra Silberstein
June & Manuel Tarsha
Cindy Corrie
Joan Dinkelspiel
$99 or under
Rachel Peterson
Dayana Daher
Oraib Kabanni
Ruba Hachim
Dorothy Walker
Elizabeth Boyle
Joan O’connor
Peggy Smith
Annette Heller
Shelley Miller
Amal Eqeiq
Dawn Guymer
Sally Foucher
Mary Love Mattox
Tara Jesson
Patricia Auch
Rhenda Meiser
John Sinno
Katia & James Harb
Claude Soudah
Louise Dillard
Grants
WESTAF
Seattle Center Foundation
City of Seattle
Microsoft Matching Funds
in-kind donations
Abdul Hawasli
Me-TV KVOS
Shatila Sweets
Seattle Center
Smart City Company
Thank you to all of the donors we were not able
to list by our print deadline. Many thanks also to
all the volunteers who are signing up now and
those we know will offer to lend a helping hand
upon arrival at the festival.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
About acw
A Big Welcome (Ahlan Wa Sahlan) to the 7th
Arab Festival!
ACW Board
Mona Stucki, President
Huda Giddens, Vice President
Rasha Qamheyeh, Treasurer
Rachel Peterson, Secretary
Greetings Friends!
A heartfelt Ahlan-Wa-Sahlan (Welcome!) to our 7th biennial
Arab Festival, the signature event of The Arab Center of
Washington (ACW).
We have been producing the Arab Festival since 1999
in partnership with Seattle Center as part of Seattle Center’s
Festal. Festal is a series of 20 cultural and ethnic festivals
sponsored by the City of Seattle throughout the calendar year.
We believe Arab culture in all of its richness and diversity
has something to offer all people. Our vision is to strengthen
relationships between Arabs, Arab Americans and the wider
community and to see all people in the Pacific Northwest
benefit from a fun experience, while gaining an enhanced,
realistic understanding of what it means to be Arab.
We chose the theme of “Al-Noor” (Light) this year
because we want to focus on human interaction and the
shared human experience. We want to dispel stereotypes
and misunderstanding by inviting people to come and meet
Arab Americans.
So, we invite you to come and get to know us over
coffee and sweets, in the Arab Suite (Pavilion B), enjoy
the celebration of life in the sounds of our music and our
dance, savor the flavors of our cuisine, and learn about
a hospitable people and their significant contributions to
western civilization.
A production of this magnitude cannot be accomplished
without the dedication and commitment of our volunteers,
donors, grantors and business sponsors. I want to take this
opportunity to thank you all for your tireless efforts, support and
commitment to make this yet another highly successful festival.
ENJOY!
Mona Stucki
Board President, Arab Center of Washington
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
Members at Large
Mohammad Khaddoura
Tarik Rahmani
Amer El Mograbi
About ACW
Founded in 1992, the Arab Center of Washington (ACW)
is a non- profit organization working in Washington State
to foster deeper understanding of and appreciation for the
richness and vibrancy of Arab culture and its contributions,
through educational programs and community outreach
events. ACW is a cooperative of community organizations,
associations and individuals–Arab and non Arab alike–
who share a passion for Arab culture and a desire to see it
accurately represented and holistically reflected.
What we do
• ACW illuminates the faces of Arab culture by focusing on
human interaction and the shared human experience.
• ACW builds bridges for a better tomorrow by providing
education and platforms for civic engagement, promoting
dialogue, removing misconceptions, and forging
relationships, mutual understanding and common ground.
• ACW celebrates culture by highlighting Arab history,
contributions, food, music, and art.
acw programming
Our programming includes dinners, historical events,
symposiums, forums, seminars, community gatherings,
picnics, a biennial fashion show, and a signature Arab
Festival every other year.
MEMBERSHIP
As of February 27, 2011 membership is free. ACW is
now a 501c3 and can raise funds through tax deductible
donations. Anyone who paid a membership fee in 2011
will receive a donation receipt at the end of the year.
Membership builds community and allows one to elect
ACW board members. For more information please contact
us at [email protected]
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MUSIC
The Arabesque Trio
The Arabesque Trio, developed from the larger Arabesque
Music Ensemble, will be presenting a classical, traditional
Arabic music repertoire featuring old favorites and
contemporary works from the Middle East and North Africa.
The Trio features Hanna Khoury of Philadelphia on violin,
Hicham Chami of Chicago and Gainesville on qanun, and
Hafez El Ali Kotain of Philadelphia on riqq and tabla.
More about Arabesque on page 7.
George Sadak
George Sadak is a native Egyptian drummer, recording
artist, and a dumbek instructor. He is one of the founding
members of the M.B.Orchestra and is currently the house
instructor at the Ottoman Trading Co. of Bothell WA. His
show today is a product of his experience in different genres
of music which enabled him to create his own unique style.
George utilizes his multi- instrumentalist skills to produce the
sound of a full percussion ensemble.
Fathia et les Troubadours
Fathia Attalah is a French-Algerian composer, guitarist
and Jazz singer from Toulouse. She travelled with her own
groups all over Europe and then became the director of Le
Centre Français Artistique et Culturel de Seattle from 1998
to 2003. She produces a musical revue, French Cabaret
on Broadway. She sings Jazz standards as well as her own
compositions in English and in French for many different
audiences in Seattle. She has fans in France, Lebanon,
Japan, Canada and last but not least the United States.
Her album Fathia and les Troubadours was recorded
in Redmond, WA, with the participation of three other
musicians: Omar Haggag, Joel Gamble and Mustapha. It is
above all an “an album of uplifting traditional French music”
with an Arabic influence.
Read more about Fathia et les Troubadours at fathiainseattle.com
House of Tarab
House of Tarab aka H.O.T is based in Seattle. The ensemble
performs mainly classic and traditional Arabic music from
Egypt as well as folk music from around the middle east.
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Stephen Elaimy Oud, David McGrath Ney, Tracy Helming
Violin, Andy Zadronzy Bass and Jane Hall & Erik Brown on
percussion make up the instrumentation. Today H.O.T is
joined by guests Michael Nagueb on Arabic Keyboard and
George Sadak on Drum Kit. Welcome to the House of Tarab.
Find out more at houseoftarab.com
Maurice Sadak Rouman and George Sadak
Maurice Rouman an Oud master whose career spans
over 70 years. Maurice participated in the revolution of
modern Egyptian music as a child in the early 20th century
while studying classical music before he went on and
immersed himself in middle eastern music specializing
in ancient Egyptian. His work over the years gained him
several awards in Egypt and the US. Today he shares his
music passion with a few selected students to insure the
continuation of his mission. He also performs with his group
the MB Orchestra which he founded in the late 70’s.
Drummer, arranger and music instructor, George
started his career as a child musician appearing in local
radio talent shows in his country of birth, Egypt. His passion
for drumming lead him to study several types of drums in a
variety of genres to go with them ranging from Jazz to the
middle eastern music and specializing in the Egyptian tabla
(darbuka). George recorded and performed throughout the
USA and now lives in Washington state where he runs his
“Barking dogs studio” , he is also a house instructor at the
Ottoman Trading Co. studio.
Learn more at www.themborchestra.com
Shoruk
Shoruk blends the warmth, joy, passion and virtuosity of
middle eastern music together to create a show that is
both exciting and welcoming. Based in Seattle, they have
performed in venues ranging from elementary schools to
Benaroya Hall. Ayham Tannous sings and plays oud and
recently moved to the States from Syria. Ahmad Yousefbeigi
is Kurdish and sings both Persian and Arabic songs, and
also plays percussion. Chandra Narraine, tabla, has lived
all over the world and performed extensively in Spain and
the middle east. Michael Nageub performed in the Cairo
Opera House and throughout Egypt on nay and keyboard
before moving to the United States in 2008. Tracy Helming
performs on violin and teaches extensively around the
northwest. All members of the band have been musicians
in their own countries for years before beginning this new
journey in music making together. With a focus on the tarab
literature rooted in egyptian and middle eastern culture,
they strive to bring the soulful transcendence of this musical
tradition to their audiences with each and every note.
More information is available at: http://alimahdances.com/music.php
Deima Elnatour and Nader Kabbani
This is a live performance with two inspired Jordanian
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
MUSIC
local spotlight:
MB Orchestra
Throughout the Middle East, music and dance are vastly
diverse. Modern melodies are rooted in ancient poetry, from
the artistic mecca of Egypt, to traditions of the Arabian Gulf,
Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Morocco, music and dance
unite in an unparalleled, modern, invigorating, and entertaining
production by the MB Orchestra. Founded in Alexandria, Egypt
during the mid-1970s by Maurice Rouman and his sons Bahaa
and George Sadak, the MB Orchestra is a five-piece family
group that performs music from Ancient Egypt all the way to
today’s Middle Eastern pop and dance.
Maurice Sadak Rouman
Oud
Maurice was born and raised in Southern Egypt. He has spent
over 40 years performing and composing Middle Eastern
music, with an emphasis on ancient Egyptian or “Pharaoh”
music. Maurice graduated from the Conservatory of Milan
in the early 1950s, and spent the next 30 years performing
throughout the Middle East and Europe. In the early 1980s
he relocated to the U.S., where he has been teaching and
performing ever since. Maurice is currently recording a
documentary CD, which will trace Egyptian music from 4000
BC to the music of today, and will also describe the influence of
the West on modern-day Egyptian musical styles.
Bahaa Sadak
Keyboards/Vocal, Music director
Bahaa is the musical director of the band, the keyboard
player, a vocalist, and a recording artist. Bahaa’s musical
career started in Alexandria, Egypt, where he co-founded
the MB Orchestra and recorded the group’s first album in
1977. Bahaa’s classical roots have enabled him to create
a unique blend of modern and classic Arabic music that
has earned him widespread recognition across ethnic
communities and the Western world.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
George Sadak
Tabla/Percussion, Creative Programing
As the drummer and Egyptian Tabla player (dumbek),
George’s musical journey took him through Middle Eastern
music, jazz, the Arabian Gulf, the Balkans, and his niche and
first love−Egyptian music of his native land. Growing up as a
drum kit player, George had a chance to learn several styles
of music that did not necessarily use the Egyptian table,
which helped broaden his approach to composing Tabla
grooves. As a teenager in the 1980s, George performed
in international clubs around the Pacific Northwest. In the
1990s he relocated to Los Angeles, where he performed in
international shows and was a studio session artist. Today,
George performs around the Northwest with several bands
and runs his Barking Dog Studio in Edmonds, Wash.
Shiham Sbait
Vocals- Tabla
Shiham began his musical training in junior high, studying
violin for several years with Simon Shaheen, a celebrated
musician of the Middle East. In high school, Shiham began
singing while learning the tabla. He also became a lead
Dabke dancer with a folk dance team in his hometown of
Haifa in northern Israel. In 1979, he moved to the U.S. and
began singing and playing at premiere Seattle clubs and
events such as Bumbershoot and Folklife Festival. He has
recorded two albums and has been performing with the MB Orchestra since 1983.
Waseem Sbait
Doholla - Duff
A new addition to the group and although he comes from a jazz
trombonist background, Waseem has found his new passion in
Egyptian drumming. He plays the Doholla and duff.
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music
Featured:
Arabesque trio
Hicham Chami
Qanun
Hicham Chami is a Moroccan-born qanun performer based
in Chicago and Florida. He has studied qanun for twenty-four
years, with Abd El-Kbir Al-Haddad and Hassan Amhaouch
in Morocco and George Sawa and Jamal Sinno in the United
States. Chami graduated from the National Conservatory
of Music and Dance in Rabat, Morocco, with a diploma in
qanun performance and instruction and another in Western
music theory. Following graduation from business college in
Casablanca, he relocated to Chicago for the MBA program at
DePaul University’s Kellstadt School of Business.
Chami has performed with several ensembles in the
U.S. and can be heard on several CDs, ranging from - the
traditional Egyptian repertoire to Turkish folk music. He
was named in Chicago Magazine’s “Best of Chicago” issue
(August 2002) as “best instrumentalist”. Chami is founder
and Executive Director of the Arabesque Music Ensemble
as well as the Arabesque Foundation for Arab Culture,
an organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of
classical Arabic, Turkish, and Armenian music.
Chami is an educator as well as a musician. He conducts
workshops and classes for children and adults in a variety of
settings throughout the country, and designed Arabesque, an
educational program introducing Chicago-area students to Arab
culture and music as well as the Heartland Seminars on Arab
Culture presented throughout the Midwest. Chami founded
the Near Eastern Orchestra at the University of Florida, and is
currently pursuing his PhD in ethnomusicology there.
Hanna Khoury
Violin
Khoury is an Arab-Israeli violinist and violist trained in both
Western classical and Arabic classical music styles. As
Artistic Director of the Arabesque Music Ensemble, he has
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led several nation-wide tours, performing traditional Arabic
music in major venues and universities. He is a violinist and
Arabic music advisor with Intercultural Journeys, frequently
performing with cellist Ohad Bar-David.
Khoury recently toured with Lebanese superstar Fairuz
and played lead violin with Iraqi singer Kazem Al-Saher and
Grammy winner Youssou N’Dour. In addition, Khoury can
be heard on several pop recordings including the Grammynominated song “Beautiful Liar” (featuring Beyonce and
Shakira), and “Love and Compassion” (with Paula Cole and
Kazem Al-Saher). Khoury recorded strings for Shakira’s
Grammy performance of “Hips Don’t Lie”; he has collaborated
with musician/composer Roustom on multiple projects,
including an Arabic jazz album with Al-Zafeer Ensemble.
A recipient of the America-Israel Scholarship and
Qattan Foundation Award, Khoury graduated Magna
Cum Laude with departmental honors from UCLA with
a bachelor’s in Economics and Music Performance,
and obtained his master’s degree in Music from Temple
University. He is currently an Artist-in-Residence and Music
Director with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture in Philadelphia.
Hafez El Ali Kotain
Percussion
Kotain is an accomplished master percussionist, fluent in
both Arab and Latin rhythms. Born in Venezuela of Syrian
heritage, he grew up in Syria until the age of 16 =. He began
playing the doumbek at the age of seven, made his first stage
performance at nine, and went on to study with master Syrian
percussionist Hady Jazan; winning the regional percussion
competitions in Syria for five consecutive years.
Since his residency in Philadelphia, he has continued
to play Arab percussion and perform with a variety of
musicians. Hafez has taught percussion with Al- Bustan the
past three years.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
music
American musicians. The beloved oud along with a digital
keyboard will take you on an exciting journey of familiar
Arabic classics and modern tunes.
Deima Elnatour is an author, strategist and public
speaker with 13 years of experience in operations
management. She holds a Ph.D. in information science and
technology. In her free time she loves to play the oud, piano
and compose music.
Naseem Band
Entertaining audiences locally and in Lebanon for over a
decade, Walid Nakkour on keyboards and his brother on
percussion will get you up and dancing!
Salaam Stranger (of the Sons Of Hagar)
with Soosi
Join Ahmad Hawasli for some serious Arab American
hip-hop. With a unique style that refelctstt he diversity and
comnplexity of his own Syrian background, Ahmad delivers
bilingual lyrics in a fresh blend of Arabic and American
music. Joining him onstage are his brother Abdul Hawasli
and his son, Soosi (age 3).
What to do and see: Other
Festival Highlights
Arab Suite
New this year, the festival will have an Arab Suite
which will include the Freedom Stage where there
will be a variety of panel discussions, lectures,
stories and presentations by local Arab Americans.
The Arab Suite will be dressed in Arab Décor with
highlights from different countries, symbolizing our
unity. Guests will have an opportunity to get to know
who the Arabs really are over tea/coffee and sweets,
by meeting and having meaningful conversations
with Arab Americans. The Arab Suite will be housed
in Seattle Center’s Pavilion B, which is next to the
new skateboard park.
Continue the Conversation Social
Saturday 7-10pm in the Arab Suite/Pavilion B
Come relax, continue the conversation and enjoy
some sweets as the formal program concludes.
There will be jazz music by AEK:SaharBlues and
perhaps some other impromptu entertainment.
Family Activities Center
Did you know you speak Arabic every day? Discover
the rich heritage of Arabic culture through fun and
educational activities from calligraphy, to henna, to
mosaics, and more! All ages are welcome.
Fashion Show
Sunday, Mahrajan Stage, 12:30 pm
Showcasing a blend of traditional and contemporary
apparel and accessories, this is a festival favorite.
It will again feature some of the Kuffiyeh Clothing
International collection.
A Wealth of Information: ACW’s Educational Resources Booth
Offering festival attendees a chance to stock up on all things
Arab including books, maps and films. Great for teachers,
parents, children, and anyone looking to learn more about the
Arab World. Proceeds from this booth support ACW programs
and activities.
Zeffa
Saturday, Mahrajan Stage, 6:15 pm
Join in the Zeffa, a traditional wedding procession
led by dancers and musicians. The bride and
groom follow, along with family and friends, as they
celebrate the joyous occasion with singing, clapping
and zagareets. In Egypt, the lineup includes the
spectacular Shamadan or candelabra dance, as
performed by Zaphara.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
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dance
Banat Sahar
Banat Sahar performs regional dance styles of North
Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia as well as Middle
Eastern bellydance. The group formed in Bellingham, WA
in 1997 and often includes musicians and singers as well as
dancers. At Arab Festival 2011, the group will be performing
two dance styles of North Africa to pre-recorded music:
Tunisian and Moroccan Shikhaat.
Dahlia
Dahlia was born to a family of musicians, artists and singers
and has been surrounded by music and song throughout
her life. She studied traditional Western dances, such as
ballet and tap, at a very young age. She will perform a
sequence of saidi, assaya and khaliji dances. Find out more
at dahliadance.com
Elisa Gamal: Melaya Leff
A melaya is a large piece of black fabric that was used
by Egyptian women in the early part of the last century
as a modesty wrap over their street clothes. In the 1940s
Mahmoud Reda introduced the sassy, flirty ìmelaya leffî
character dance as part of his folkloric troupeís theater
show; todayís dance stars in Cairo frequently will include
a melaya leff tableau as part of their show. Find out more
atelisagamal.com.
Karavans Dance Troupe
Karavans Dance Troupe brings to life the colorful folk
and tribal dances of the Middle East, North Africa and
the Persian Gulf States. Over the years they have
performed at numerous cultural festivals, community
events and for educational enrichment programs, including
the Folklife Festival, World Fest and the Arab Festival.
Mish Mish is the director of Karavans. Find out more at
karavansdancetroupe.com
Janelle Bel Isle
different dance styles rarely seen locally: Nubian and Suez
Canal dance.
Nubian Dance
As a neighboring empire, the ancient Nile valley kingdom
of Nubia enjoyed much less modern archeological acclaim
than the Northern Egyptians, due to 19th-20th century wars
and the construction of Niledams, leaving nearly all of the
civilization, farmlands, and artifacts under water. Today,
resettled Nubians populate cities among their other Egyptian
and Sudanese neighbors and continue to practice their own
independent languages, and music and dance traditions.
Suez Canal Dance
In the mid-nineteenth century, European and Egyptian
interests beganconstruction of the Suez Canal, set to link
the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Mostlyuninhabited desert
at the time, the canal zone became quickly populated
with workers from very diverse backgrounds. Not only
Egyptian Bedouins dug the canal, but aneclectic turnout of
Western and Eastern Europeans labored as well. With no
existinginfrastructure for the workers to entertain themselves
after work, most passed time playing music on the Bedouin
semsimmiyya (a small lyre), and dancing as they did back
home. After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, the
new city centers of Ismailaya and Port Said became busy
commercial areas. These cities today are known for their
unique style of semsimmiyya music and melting pot-derived
dance culture. Unlike of the rest of Egyptian dance, the
canal area tends to use a lot of high center of gravity and
footwork, as well as spoon playing. The semmsimmiyya
instrument, “al-bombuteyya” dance style, and sailor attire
are still strong identity markers for this region.
Malia
Living north of Seattle with her husband and two children,
Malia is pleased to bring the earthy flavor of beledi to
Arabfest. A regular teacher and performer, she especially
loves the musical story beledi brings to the dancer and the
down-home rootedness it evokes. To learn more about
performance, learning opportunities and community events,
please visit maliadances.com.
Janelle began her studies in dance, music, and
anthropology in California. Having moved to Seattle three
years ago, she continues to enjoy learning about dance and
music of the Middle East. She studies Arabic music theory
and likes playing viola and oud. Janelle will perform two
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2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
dance
Sabura
Zulaika
Of Syrian-Lebanese heritage, Sabura performs and teaches
Middle Eastern dance throughout the western U.S. and
Canada. She has been included annually inthe King County
Arts Commission (now 4Culture) Touring Arts Rostersfor
the past 11 years, and was the first Middle Eastern dancer
to receive a Performing Arts Award from the Seattle Arts
Commission (Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs).
Sabura directed Performances or Publicity for the first
four of Seattleís Arab Festivals, is a community coordinator
for NW Folklife, and has twice won the national title of
“Bellydancer USA”. Besides teaching workshops and private
lessons, she works both in health informatics and as a family
practice physician.
Sabura feels that Middle Eastern dance is one of the
most complex, varied, and exquisite of all the dance genres.
She wants the general public to experience the rich soul of
Arabic music and dance and---through it---to gain greater
appreciation for and understanding of the arts, cultures, and
peoples of the Middle East.To learn more, visit sabura.net
Zulaika’s career in Arabic dance spans 30 years. In
Minneapolis, she was a founding member of Jawaahir
Dance Company, a soloist at Arabic restaurants, and a
teacher at the Cassandra School. Zulaika currently lives and
teaches in Bellevue. Find out more at pcauch.com.
Shahrazad Dance Ensemble
Raqs al-Jazur (Dance of the Islands)
Zulaika performs a traditional Tunisian woman’s dance
which is always seen at parties and weddings. Vigorous
horizontal hip movements characterize this dance, and in
the southern islands of Djerba and Kerkennah it is often
performed with a clay water pot balanced on the head.
Tanoura
Tanoura is an Egyptian folk dance performed by sufi men
in Egypt. It is similar to the Sufi whirling dervishes but in the
Egyptian version, the dancers wear colorful skirts which are
removed and spun during the performance.
Layali Dabke
Layali first danced at the Arab Festival as part of Siraj in
2009. They have since performed at NW Folklife, the Seattle
Travel Show and numerous events sharing and promoting
Arab culture.
BATISTE DABKE TEAM
Formed this year in honor of Omar Batiste (see tribute on
page 23), this group of young dancers has energy to spare!
This year marks Shahrazad’s seventh Arab Festival. They
have been regular performers at Cultural Crossroads and
Folklife over the past 30 years and are perhaps best known
for their traditional folk dances, including debkeh, which
they will be performing again this year. Find out more at
shahrazadensemble.com.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
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schedule
Saturday, october 8th
maharajan stage
11:00 AM
Located in Fisher Pavillion
Sunday, october 9th
freedom stage
Located in Pavillion B
maharajan stage
freedom stage
Located in Fisher Pavillion
Located in Pavillion B
Shoruk
Remi Kanazi: Writing Workshop
11:15
11:30
11:45
12:00 PM
House of Tarab
12:15
Fashion Show
12:30
Diglossic Arabic
12:45
1:00
Opening Ceremony
Batiste Dabke Team
1:15
2:00
2:15
Layali Debke, Banat Sahar
& Malia
Remi Kanazi
George Sadak
Salaam Stranger
Mystery of the Hijab
Karavans Dance
3:00
Afifi Durr: Storytelling
3:15
3:30
Fathia Atallah & Les Troubadors
Deima Elnatour & Nader Kabbani
2:30
2:45
Arabesque Trio
Shahrazad, Janelle, Dahlia
& Zulaika
Song of the Dove: Art and the Arab
American Experience
Maurice Rouman
Traveling in the Arab World
3:45
Hanna Eady: Theatre Artist
& Musician
MB Orchestra
4:00
4:15
4:30
Rai Music: From North African
Origins to Global Success
4:45
5:00
5:15
Arab Music Workshop
Taibo
1:30
1:45
Elisa Gamal, Batiste Debke Team
Dahlia & Janelle
Shahrazad Dance Ensemble
& Layali
Naseem Band
5:30
5:45
6:00
Zulaika
6:15
Zeffa
Arab Spring: A Cultural Revolution
The Crossing: Egyptian Democracy
and the Collective Aesthetic
Remi Kanazi
A Land WITH People
Thank Yous
6:30
6:45
7:00
Continue the Conversation Social
7:15
7:30
7:45
8:00
Sahar Blues by AEK
8:15
8:30
8:45
9:00
9:15
9:30
9:45
10:00 PM
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2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
map
FIsher
Pavillion
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
12
panels & Lectures
Arab Spring: A Cultural Revolution
Join us for conversation and discussion around the recent
waves of uprisings sweeping the Arab World, and their
ability to inspire a new cultural renaissance across the
region. Learn about the significance of the Arab Spring
on many levels including historical and cultural. The panel
includes Arab Americans from Libya, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia
and Palestine who have first-hand accounts from their
recent travels.
Discover the Mysteries of Hijab (Headscarf)!
The mysterious hijab... A tradition that was part of the
Holy Mother Mary’s life... unlock the mysteries of the
styles, culture, and history, how it is put on, and have an
opportunity to try one on.
Diglossic Arabic: A Divided Language That
Unites A People
How is Middle Eastern culture present in academia?
Listen to students from the Arabic Program at Edmonds
Community College and Everett Community College as
they detail what they have been learning in the classroom
about Arabic language, dialects, and culture.
visiting poet:
Remi Kanazi
American-born Palestinian Poet Remi Kanazi is a
poet, writer and peace activist based in New York City.
Poetry more than any other means communicates
what is deepest in man, what gives us hope beyond
crime and despair. Auden says: “Follow, poet,
follow right/To the bottom of the night/With your
unconstraining voice/Still persuade us to rejoice.”
Kanazi’s riveting performance will take place
at the Freedom Stage in Pavilion B on Saturday,
October 8th from 1:45 pm-2:15 pm and then again on
Sunday on the Mahrajan Stage at 5:30pm. Kanazi
will also deliver a writing workshop in Pavilion B on
Sunday, October 9th from noon to 12:45 pm.
Kanazi’s poetic journey has taken him across
North America, the United Kingdom, and the Middle
East. His work was recently featured in the Palestine
Festival of Literature and Poetry International.
Kanazi’s commentary has been featured by news
outlets worldwide, including BBC Radio, Al Jazeera
English, and GRITtv with Laura Flanders.
Kanazi will bring signed copies of his book,
Poetic Injustice in which he bravely grapples with the
issues surrounding his commonly misunderstood
homeland, Palestine. Included in the book are fortyeight three-line poems and a full-length spoken word
poetry CD.
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Arabic Music Workshop
Whether you are a seasoned performer or new to Arab
music, come learn about Arab music from our visiting
headline performers, the Arabesque Trio. Bring an
instrument if you wish, or just come and listen to what
they have to say and perhaps play. This workshop intends
to offer something for everyone.
Song of the Dove: Art and the Arab American
Experience
Listen and learn as Spider Kedelsky interviews visiting
artists Hicham Chami and Remi Kanazi, along with local
artists Lena Khalaf Tuffaha and Kholoud “Kay” Tarapolsi.
Rai Music: From North African Origins to
Global Success by amine tais (uW)
This presentation will introduce the rise of Rai music
in Algeria and Morocco and will trace its history
from modest origins in the early twentieth century to
international success starting in the 1990’s. We will
consider the social and political context that helped
shape the development of Rai music, including key
moments in Algerian history like French colonialism,
the establishment of the Algerian nation-state, the
rise of Islamist movements, and the civil war. The
presentation will include Powerpoint slides and many
video excerpts, featuring the most important names in
the history of Rai, like Sheikha Rimitti, Cheb Khaled,
Cheb Mami, and others.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
Panels & Lectures
Hanna Eady: Theater artist and musician from
Palestine
Come listen to one of Seattle’s local talents who has made
an impression far beyond the local scene.
Writing Workshop with Remi Kanazi
Ever thought “no, I can’t write”? Well, Remi will be here to
convince you otherwise...
Afifi Durr: Telling the Stories of Our Lives
A Land WITH A People by Hanna Eady
Palestine is perhaps the most misunderstood culture
in the Arab world. This presentation will shed light on
the people, culture and history of Palestine prior to
and during the occupation, telling the whole story of
the Palestinian people in a compelling, compassionate
and non confrontational way. Palestine and the
issues surrounding it are truly transnational. They
are an undercurrent fueling pan-Arab discontent
and many current events, and a vital piece of Arab
collective identity. The unresolved Palestine issue is,
in many ways, the achilles’ heel of the Arab world.
Understanding Palestine and its people is key to
understanding the region as a whole.
Traveling in the Middle East
Have you ever thought about traveling in the Middle
East and wondered how to prepare, what to do to get
the most out of your trip? Come listen to Rita Zawaideh
of Caravan-Serai Travel.
Afifi Durr, Briarcrest resident and Seattle Storytellers
Guild member, will teach participants to tell their own
stories within five to seven minutes. A native of Lebanon,
Afifi has done storytelling workshops with adults, Middle
East Peace Camp kids, senior citizens, libraries and
members of the community. She encourages people to
come listen, laugh, and enjoy hearing stories or tell their
own stories. Stories enrich our culture, our community
and bring healing to our world.
The Crossing: Egyptian Democracy and the
Collective Aesthetic by Nathaniel Greenberg (UW)
The title of this talk refers to both the incredible social
transformation underway in the Middle East and North
Africa today and to the cultural history of region overall. At
the intersection of the world’s great religions and empires,
Arab writers and artists have long meditated on the subject
of social harmony. In the Twentieth Century alone, some
of the most powerful voices in world literature, from Taha
Hussein, to Naguib Mahfouz, or Mahmoud Darwish, have
found through histories of collective oppression, hardship
and suffering a profound and beautiful aesthetic of
democracy that precedes and surpasses any singular model
of government.
The uprisings in the Arab world signaled not the
beginning, but the continuation of a collective spirit that
unites, and, at times, divides the people of the region,
but that should serve as reminder to the regimes
and corporate states of the world that democracy is
not an institution, or a political process, but a work
of art, which, like all great works of art must remain
ambiguous if it is to last.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
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profiles
Farhat Ziadeh
Occupation: Professor Emeritus at the University of
Washington in the Department of Near Eastern Languages
& Civilization.
Education: B.A. from the American University of Beirut,
1937; LLB from the University of London 1940; Barrister-atLaw in Lincoln’s Inn, London 1946
Birthplace: Ramallah, Palestine
Years in Washington State: 45
Professor Ziadeh left his home and his professions in 1948
when Israel was created. He brought his wife, his brother
and three sisters to the United States. He became a lecturer
at Princeton and also the Editor of the Arabic Desk of the
USIA Voice of America.
Leaving Princeton in 1966 after 18 years (first as a
lecturer and eventually as a tenured associate professor),
Professor Ziadeh has now lived in Washington State for
45 years. He moved here to establish Middle East Studies
at the UW. His largest contribution to this state was in his
founding of the Department of Near Eastern Languages
and Civilization at the University of Washington, though his
contributions don’t end there. In 1980 he was elected the
President of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA),
an international association comprised of over 2000
scholars. The UW established the Distinguished Lectureship
in Arab and Islamic Studies in his name. He also received
the prestigious MESA Mentoring Award, as well as the
Arabic Symposium Award from Wayne State University
for his exceptional accomplishments in the field of Arabic
studies. In 2002 he was awarded a Community Service
Award by the American Cultural Exchange in recognition
of his role at the UW. He has guest lectured at many
prestigious universities including Harvard and Columbia.
He is also the author or editor of several works on Arabic
grammar and Islamic Law.
Who Are the Arabs? Exerpts from the Arab
American Anti-Discrimination Committee
The term Arab refers to individuals who speak Arabic and
belong to the Semitic race with roots leading back to the
Arabian Peninsula (Suleiman, 2000). Arabs constitute
a diverse mixture of people. They originate from over
twenty countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East
(Schwartz, 1999) with their total population approximating
300 million (Elmandjra, 2004).
Geographically Arabs are divided into three distinct
regions: 1) Northern Africa, 2) Mediterranean countries
excluding those in Africa, and 3) the Arabian Gulf Region
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In 1982, Professor Ziadeh organized a trip for local
church groups to meet Yasser Arafat in Lebanon to get a
first-hand account. The move caused great controversy,
but he believes that it created a better understanding of
the conflict. He notes that the Seattle Arab community has
experienced great growth since he came that more people
are now interested in the culture and Islam. His wife Suad
was involved with the Palestinian Heritage Group and
Palestinian Concerns Group of St. Mark and organized
many fundraising events. Professor Ziadeh and his wife
have five daughters and many grandchildren.
Q: What would you like to tell people attending the
festival?
A: Welcome to our festival. We are proud of our Middle
Eastern heritage. It was in the Middle East that the basic
components of civilization were developed; the three
monotheistic religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;
the invention of the wheel; the numerals and the decimal
system; the transmission of Greek and Roman thought to
the West through the Arabic language; the propagatiion
of science, including chemistry and astronomy and the
development of the alphabet by the phoenicians.
and Saudi Peninsula. Although each of these populations
is Arab, they speak Arabic with different dialects and have
slightly different traditions. Iranians, Turks, Armenians,
Kurds, Afghans, and Pakistani are not Arabs, although they
reside in the same part of the world.
These regions also have a variety of climates
and landscapes. The Arab countries’ climates range
from soaring desert temperatures to cool mountain
weather. Their governments also range from various
stages of republican governments to emirates, socialist
governments, and dictatorships.
Arabs also have a diversity of physical attributes.
Arabs can be olive or light complexioned and have red,
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
profiles
Koloud ‘Kay’ Tarapolsi
OCCUPATION: Crafter/Artist
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University.
Masters of Arts in International Studies, University of
Washington. Museumology Certification, Burke Museum
BIRTHPLACE: Darneh, Libya
Years in Washington State: 19
Koloud ‘Kay’ Tarapolsi creates art and crafts to promote
a positive image of Arab culture. She currently sells these
items under her company, A Crafty Arab. Kay moved to
Seattle in 1992 and started volunteering at the Seattle
Art Museum, where she has been a Docent since 1996.
She founded Arab Artists Resources & Training, an
international non-profit, was an Arts Commissioner for
the City of Redmond for 6 years, served on the Salaam
Cultural Museum board and African Council at SAM and
is the current Arabic storyteller for the King County Library
System. Kay was Board Director of the Arab Center of
Washington from 2005 to 2007 and was a producer of the
2007 Arab Festival. She lives in Redmond with her husband
and three young daughters. Kay has either visited or lived in
44 American states and visited 16 foreign countries, most
of them with her parents and two brothers. She is lucky she
inherited her sense of wanderlust from her folks.
Q: Reason for immigration?
A: My parents came to the US to study, but were soon
blacklisted by Gaddafi when they didn’t agree with his
politics. We were soon granted political asylum and
allowed to stay and be protected. Now my family members
have gained citizenship and we repay the generosity that
was allotted to us to participate in this country, by voting,
volunteering and contributing as citizens.
blond, brunette or black hair. They can have any eye color.
Arabs also make up all strata of society. The image of the
fabulously wealthy oil sheik only pertains to a few of the
elite members of society or members of royal families. Yet,
with all this diversity, Arabs are still united by a common
thread of identity and a bond of heritage based on culture
and tradition that dates back thousands of years.
For more information, visit adc.org/education.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
Q: What do you miss most about Libya?
A: Living next to a warm beach, playing and laughing with
my 42 cousins, my grandmother’s cooking, my grandfather’s
garden, the sense of community with your neighbors (who
were most likely somehow related to you), hearing the
Arabic language 24/7.
Q: What is the most important thing you can impart to
your children, as an Arab mother?
A: Reminding them that they came from a culture rich in
history and proud people. And that their grandmother makes
the best couscous in the world.
Q: What are you most proud of ?
A: Being known as an Arab American woman who is not
afraid to speak up for her culture so that others can see how
spectacular our region of the world really is and what it has
to offer society as a whole.
Q: What would you like to tell people attending this festival?
A: Arabs are all around you, they are your neighbors, your
co-workers, your friends. We first came to Washington state
in the late 1800s as immigrants and have integrated our lives
with others around us. Please enjoy our hospitality, eat our
food, listen to our language and be a part of who we are for
two days. You will not be disappointed in your experiences.
Sources:
Suleiman, M. (2000). Teaching about Arab Americans: What social studies
teachers should know. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED442 714).
Elmandjra, M. (2004). How will the Arab world be able to master its own
independent developments?
Schwartz, M. W. (1999). Introduction: The Arab immigrant experience. In Michael
W. Suleiman (Ed.), Arabs in America (pp.1-25). Philadelphia, Penn: Temple
University Press.
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profiles
Maurice Sadak Rouman
Occupation: Retired Bank Manager (Egypt)
Education: Conservatory of Milan, Italy – Degree in
Western Music
Birthplace: Upper Egypt
Years in Washington State: 30
I was born in Upper Egypt, but lived for much of my life in
Alexandria. I married Ensaf, who is a balancing force in our
family. We have 4 children: Bahaa, George, Magda and
Mervat. I have three sisters who now live in New York City
and one who lives here. I began studying music as a child
and play and have taught both Western and Arabic classical
music, learning and teaching first the accordion (Western),
then piano, guitar and oud. I have taught students around
the world, including Australia, France and Italy as well as
many places here in the US and Canada. I have played
many places as well, including the Vatican. I have a degree
in Philosophy and a degree in Western Music from the
University Milano.
I have studied Beethoven, Chopin, Rimsky-Korsakov,
Mozart, Bach, Bizet and more classical Western composers,
as well as studying Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and playing for
Om Khoulthum, Sohair Zaki and many more in Egypt. I still
study today the lives and works of many musicians.
During the term of President Nixon, I played for him and
it was by through his encouragement that I then applied for
immigration with his support. I initially brought myself and
my oldest son, Bahaa in 1980 to New York City. Soon after I returned and brought my wife and the rest of my family.
We relocated to Seattle in 1982 and have been
entertaining audiences near and far ever since.
IDENTIFY THE ARAB-AMERICANS: Exerpts from
Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee
Arab Americans have achieved prominence in many spheres
of life from writers, to political and business leaders, to
entertainers, and more. Some of them are household names,
yet few people are aware of their ethnic origins. Try matching
names with identities.
1) Poet / philosopher / author of The Prophet
2) 2000 Presidential Candidate & Consumer advocate
3) Former Senate Majority Leader
4) Singer, dancer, choreographer
5) Corporal Klinger of “M*A*S*H”
6) Dean of the White House press corps
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Reason for immigration? The freedom and peace of mind in
the United States are the things that brought me here.
Q: What do you miss most about your country?
A: I miss the place of my birth and I miss Alexandria.
Q: What is the most important thing you can impart to
your children, as an Arab parent?
A: Education is one of the most important things I can give
my children. They have all attended college or university and
are all accomplished musicians (Bahaa on keyboards and
vocals, George on percussion and vocals, Magda on guitar
and vocals, Mervat on piano)
Q: What are you most proud of ?
A: I am proud to be a U.S. Citizen and I am proud of my
children and their musical abilities.
Q: What would you like to tell people attending this
festival?
A: I want them to know that they must work hard in life… I am still studying, working and learning.
7) Producer of “Halloween” films
8) Disk jockey, creator of “American Top 40”
9) White House Chief of Staff, Bush Adm.
10) NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner
11) Indy 500 winner, National Race Car champion
12) Former CEO, Ford Motor Company
13) The founder of “Mothers Against Drunk Driving”
14) Actor from “Men in Black” & various TV shows
15) Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, “Amadeus”
16) Comedian, founder of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
17) Former co-star of Baywatch
18) U.S. Secretary of Energy, G.W. Bush Adm.
19) Actress in “American Pie” and “American Pie 2”
20) Co-star of “Wild Wild West” and “Desperado”
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
profiles
Ghada Shaker Ellithy
OCCUPATION: Geotechnical Engineer at the Army Corps of
Engineers, Seattle District
EDUCATION: PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, West
Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
BIRTHPLACE: Cairo, Egypt
Years in Washington State: 5
I was born in Cairo, Egypt. I traveled with my parents
when I was young to different Arab countries like Algeria
and Saudi Arabia where I finished elementary school.
I have one younger brother who currently lives in Cairo
as the rest of my family. I graduated from high school
and attended Engineering college in Cairo, and had my
Masters degree from there as well. I got married to a
classmate. Omar was born in Cairo and came to the US
when he was 2-year old, Salma was born in the US.
of pride that mandates behaving accordingly in a sense of
responsibility and up to high standards. It’s a combination
of identities that carries within it distinguished and unique
characteristics throughout human history extending from
the ancient Egyptian civilization through middle ages
when Arabs and Muslims spread science and knowledge,
till nowadays modern civilization manifested in the
American culture. One should strive to benefit from all
and give back to the society.
Q: Reason for immigration?
A: I came to the US in 1993 to study towards my PhD degree. My husband at this time and my son, Omar,
joined me 6 months later. After graduation, I worked in
MD, OH, and finally in WA.
Q: What would you like to tell people attending this
festival?
A: To enjoy the festival and the Arab well known
hospitality. To try to see through the culture beyond what
meets the eyes, and to try and ask questions and learn
more; they will find out that people in general are more
similar than different.
Q: What do you miss most about Egypt?
A: I miss my family, and the simplicity and kindness of the
Egyptian people. I miss Egyptian food
Q: What is the most important thing you can impart
to your children, as an Arab mother? What are you
most proud of?
A: I always try to convey to my children the importance of
being proud of their heritage and existing identity. Being
an Arab, Muslim, Egyptian American should be a source
___ Helen Thomas
___ Jacques Nasser
___ Casey Kasem
___ Doug Flutie
___ Bobby Rahal
___ Candy Lightner
___ Ralph Nader
___ Selma Hayek
___ Yasmeen Bleeth
___ John Sununu
___ Shannon Elizabeth
___ Danny Thomas
___ Kahlil Gibran
___ Spencer Abraham
___ George Mitchell
___ Jamie Farr
___ Tony Shaloub
___ F. Murray Abraham
___ Moustapha Akkad
For more information adc.org/
education
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
Correct Answers
1. Kahlil Gibran
2. Ralph Nader
3. George Mitchell
4. Paula Abdul
5. Jamie Farr
6. Helen Thomas
7. Moustapha Akkad
8. Casey Kasem
9. John Sununu
10. Doug Flutie
11. Bobby Rahal
12. Jacques Nasser
13. Candy Lightner
14. Tony Shaloub
15. F. Murray Abraham
16. Danny Thomas
17. Yasmeen Bleeth
18. Spencer Abraham
19. Shannon Elizabeth
20. Selma Hayek
___ Paula Abdul
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community
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Of the 8 largest Muslim countries, only ONE of them
is Arab? The answer is Egypt.
Indonesia
Pakistan
Bangladesh
India
Turkey Egypt Iran
Nigeria 144 million Muslims
92 million
90 million
90 million
50 million
44 million
44 million
40 million
2. Christian Arabs make up approximately 8-12% of the
Arab population. Arab Christian communities in Palestine,
Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iraq trace their history back to
the time of Jesus and the apostles.
3. Arab women are diverse in their experiences.
Many Arab women are highly educated, professional,
cosmopolitan women, who pursue careers in the
professions. There are Arab women who are members of
parliaments, work in government agencies, are doctors,
lawyers, and engineers and attend universities all over
the Arab world.
4. The first recorded Arabs came to America to
partake of the Homestead Act around 1862; some
Yemenis came after the Suez Canal opened around 1869
and others came for the Centennial Exposition held in
Philadelphia in 1876 and remained.
5. Arab Americans with at least a high school
diploma number 89%. More 46% of Americans of Arab
decent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared
to 28% of Americans at large. 19% of Arab Americans
have a post-graduate degree, which is nearly twice the
American average (10%). Of the population currently
enrolled in school, 13% are in pre-school, 57% are in
elementary or high school, 22% are enrolled in college,
and 7% are conducting graduate studies. (http://www.
aaiusa.org/pages/demographics)
6. Thousands of Arab contributions to
mathematics, astronomy, medicine, horticulture,
architecture, and navigation have become an integral
part of human civilization.
7. The Bible was translated into Arabic before it was
translated into English.
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8. During the Dark Ages of Europe, much learning
was preserved for the world through the Arab libraries in
the universities of Morocco, Mali and Egypt.
9. Watermelon, artichokes, rice, cotton, asparagus,
oranges, lemons, limes, figs, dates, spinach and eggplant
are many crops the Arabs introduced to the West.
10. Common misconceptions are to think that Arab
traditions are Islamic, or that Islam unifies all Arabs. Arabs
belong to many religions, including Islam, Christianity,
Druze, and Judaism. It is the Arabic language and Culture
that unifies the Arab people.
11. Arabs are NOT mostly a Nomadic people – most
live in urban areas and very cosmopolitan cities. Bedouins
(nomadic people) make up about 2% of Arab people.
To learn more about Arabs, Arab Americans and
Arab Culture contact the Arab Center of Washington
(arabcenterwa.org). We have programs and discussion
groups that we can customize for any topic of interest
to you regarding Arab people. Contact us at info@
arabcenterwa.org and let us know how we can help your
community group, church, business or classroom.
College Arabic Classes Offered in the Greater
Seattle Area
Community Colleges:
Edmonds Community College (2 years of Arabic
and summer intensives)
Everett Community College (1 year of Arabic)
Highline Community College (1 year of Arabic)
For more information about Edmonds and Everett Arabic
Programs, contact: [email protected]
Colleges & Universities:
Bellevue College (1 year of Arabic)
University of Washington (3 years of Arabic and
literature courses)
For more information about these Arabic
Programs, please contact the individual school.
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
community
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
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community
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2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
tribute
Omar: a tribute
by mish mish
This year the Arab Festival is dedicated to Omar Batiste, a
long-standing and respected teacher, performer and musician
in the Arab community. Omar passed away on February 20th
of this year, but he left a legacy that spans generations and
enriched the lives of those who came in contact with him.
Although Omar was not born Arab, in the early 60s
he met members of the first Arab families to immigrate to
Seattle, mainly from Palestine and Lebanon. He was invited
to social gatherings where he felt an immediate kinship with
the culture, the people and the dance.
Thus began long association with the Arab community.
Omar converted to the Islamic faith, learned to speak Arabic
and embarked on a journey that would make him a leading
expert on the debke, a proud and joyful traditional line dance
that, for centuries, has been a part of family gatherings and
wedding celebrations from remote mountain villages to cities
all over the world where Arab immigrants have settled.
Omar worked as a waiter at various Mediterranean
restaurants (Karawans, Sahara, Ali Baba) including the
Cedars of Lebanon, the first nightclub to feature live music
and belly dancing in the Pacific Northwest. He became a
well-known fixture at the clubs, leading the debke, joining
the band to play the riq (tambourine) and encouraging
people to get up and dance. Who can forget Omar and the
Nakkour brothers at The Lebanon restaurant in the 80s?
In the 1960s, with the help of Wissam Al Awar, who had
been a member of a debke group that performed at the famous
Balbaak Festival in Lebanon, Omar started the first debke
group in the state of Washington. The group included students
from the Arab Association at the University of Washington
and members of the local community from Jordan, Palestine,
Lebanon, and Syria. They toured Washington, Oregon and
British Columbia, garnering several awards according to Rita
Zawaideh, who was a member.
Since then Omar has introduced literally thousands
of people to the debke and Arab culture via classes,
workshops and performance. He toured the West Coast with
fellow teacher Bora Ozkok, nationally recognized Turkish
folk dancer and musician. He taught debke classes at Arab
and Greek night clubs, community colleges and in public
2011 Arab Festival Program & Schedule
schools as well as for various organizations and cultural
events. Omar has taught the debke workshop at the Arab
Festival every year since it started. Two years ago, at the
age of 72, Omar debuted a new debke group at the Arab
Festival which was a big hit on the main stage. This year a
group named after Omar will be performing.
Omar was also well-known in the belly dance
community because, for many years, he was the main
source for music, finger cymbals and costumes. He
encouraged the dancers to explore the cultural aspects of
the dance and wrote a book called The Source that outlined
the history of dance. Omar’s collection of costumes, music,
videos, books and articles eventually became a reference
library that was available to anyone who wanted to do
research on dance.
On a more personal note, Omar could talk about
politics, religion and history for hours. He was a passionate
supporter of the Palestinian cause and a familiar sight at
their peaceful demonstrations.
It would be impossible to list all the things that Omar has
done over the years and the many lives he has touched. For
decades he was also a beloved and well-known member
of the Greek and Balkan community where his skill as a
dancer and respect for their culture attracted many friends.
In the 1970s he toured the West Coast, Turkey and Eastern
Europe with Koleda, Seattle’s premiere folk dance troupe,
and managed Kafana, a coffeehouse, retail space and
gathering place for Balkan folk dancers. The first seven
years of the Folklife Festival he managed the International
Stage at the Mural Amphitheater.
When friends found out Omar was sick, they threw a
party and, with three weeks’ notice, over 150 people showed
up, along with emails from around the country. The event
included music by an Egyptian band, Greek, Balkan and
Arabic folk dancing, a comedy routine by a belly dancer,
testimonials by fellow dancers, a Skype call to Saudi Arabia,
and a plaque presented to Omar by the Arab Center for his
contribution to their community.
A week after he passed away Omar was honored
posthumously by the Ethnic Heritage Council with a similar
award. At the burial service, which took place at the Muslim
cemetery in Snohomish, someone remarked, “I met Omar
Batiste in 1978, when I was a teenager, and he has been my
friend ever since”–a sentiment felt by anyone who ever met him.
Friends of Omar are establishing a foundation in his
name to honor his contribution to the ethnic dance community.
Donations will be used to fund concerts, workshops, and
research. The foundation will be part of the Salaam Cultural
Museum, a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit corporation, so all
donations are tax deductible. Make checks out to Salaam
Cultural Museum/Omar with Omar’s name on the bottom line
of the check. Mail checks to: Salaam Cultural Museum, 3806
Whitman Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103. Contact Rita Zawaideh
at [email protected] or Mish Mish at (206)522-2509 if
you have questions.
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