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June 14,15,16, 2002 $17.00 Intermedia Arts - 2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, handicap accessible |
"Tajdeed is Arabic for "renewal" and reflects my renewed passion for Middle Eastern dance and my conviction that there is a worldwide need for renewal of the spirit" says Margo Abdo O'Dell, artistic director and choreographer for the evening length dance concert on June 14-16, 2002 at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The concert focuses on contemporary Arabic art forms as they are expressed by this generation of the diaspora. "The core of my artistic work is developing and performing original choreographies based on Middle Eastern dance and music traditions," says Margo. "Today, musicians from distinct disciplines and cultures are experimenting with innovative forms of global expression and I, as a dancer, am inspired to do the same. Contemporary Arabic music is incorporating these cross-cultural sounds as well as being influenced by jazz, classical and rock and roll, I want to meld the modem movements with the traditional ones in the same way," she says. Raks Sharki, an Arabic dance with ancient roots is a cosmopolitan art form that historically borrowed from many cultures and created an idiom uniquely it's own. "The new music coming from the Arabic diaspora provides an opportunity to enrich this dance's heritage of taking the best from the traditions that are now encountering each other," Margo says. The concert will present an inviting and intriguing array of dance and music compositions - from the traditional women's solo dance, Raks Sharki to Journey to Healing, an interpretive choreography inspired by North African "zar" healing ritual that will be performed by ten dancers. This piece draws on ceremonial gestures and exaggerated eastern movements to reflect universal pain. It also depicts the plight of millions of women, who with no political voice, mourn for their lost loved ones and search for succor. The musicians selected for this concert are noted artists in the local Arabic music community: David Burk - guitar and oud, Salah Abdel Fattah - violin, Tarek Ibrahim - vocals, Maryam Yusefzadeh-Keer, vocals, Waseem Mustafa - keyboard, Tim O'Keefe - Arabic drum and Steve Spaise - percussion. Ensemble dancers include Eloisa Beyer, Cheryl Briere, Julie Rohn, Brenda Sowada and Mary West. Video artist Steven D'hanson is creating a unique video piece for this concert and dancers will wear the innovative costume designs of Madame Dawn. Carstens Smith |
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