Our Art’s Flame is Alive in Lebanon
Amani Oriental Festival 2012 Photos
Photos by Gabriel Monserrat Lopez
Text by Helwa
posted August 24, 2012
The charming Lebanese city of Beirut welcomes people from all the world to the Amani Oriental Festival. The return of the Amani Oriental Festival, June 19-24, 2012, is meaningful to all of its participants. On this 6th occasion, Oriental dancers and dance lovers had an opportunity to meet, learn, and observe different styles of Oriental and Folkloric dance and are happy to note that the evolution of Oriental dance happens without it losing its essence. Amani, the diva of Lebanese dance, helps keep the flame of this art alive in Lebanon, along with many other dancers and teachers who hail from different spots on the planet to share in her experience.
This time, the festival took place in the Al Medina Theatre at Hamra Street, Beirut, in 2012. The summer edition of the festival was honored by the presence of many teachers from different countries who united in just one feeling: their love of Oriental dance.
Here were some of the teachers who contributed their talents to the festival:
- Amani – Tabla Solo and Oriental style with Tambourine (Sponsor)
- Esperance Khoury – Oriental dance in lounge style (Lebanon)
- Georgette Gebara – Our Body …that Temple (Expression)
- Juhenyia Logvina – Entrance dance with Veil
- Roland Haddad– Stage and TV Art of Makeup (Lebanon)
- François Rahmeh – Oriental Modern dance and Bedouin dance (Lebanon)
- Margo Kalfayan – Bedouin Solo Drum with Veil (Lebanon)
- Munir Malaeb – Oriental and Dabkeh dance in “Rajana Veda style” (Lebanon)
- Fatima Serin – Turkish Gypsy dance (Turkey)
- Bob Dancer – Technical steps in Theatrical Oriental dance & Stage Presence (Lebanon)
- Sami Khouri – Oriental dance/musical instruments (Lebanon)
- Perla Elias – Moroccan Tray dance & Oriental dance (Mexico)
- Maya Gaorry – Melaya Laff & Oriental style dance (Brazil);
- Tufic Nabak – Dabkeh dance (Lebanon)
- Fatima Serin – Turkish Gypsy dance (Turkey)
- Amani Jabril – Tabla Solo & Oriental Veil styles (USA)
- Mohamed Hassan – Oriental Spanish Dance & Women’s Saidi Cane dance
- Helwa – Oriental Samba Fusion (Brazil)
- Said Al Amir – JOM dance (Germany)
- Munir Nellmeldin – The teacher of Dabkeh (Argentina)
It felt as if good friends had gathered together in the festival to share a hug after having been apart for so long! Warmth among the participants was obvious, and everyone felt like they belonged to one big “family”.
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Amani Fest 2012
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2- Fursan Group
3- Juhenya Lovigna
4- Mohamed Hassan
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18-Mohamed Hassan (Egipt) and Kamila Machynová( Czech Republic)
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21- Firqat Al Arz Group: The nice atmosphere after the Opening Gala with some of the teachers who taught during the Festival.
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27- Nicole ( Naomi Suzuki – Japan)
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33- Nicole ( Naomi Suzuki – Japan)
34- Simon Sarkis (Lebanon)
35- Ali Reda and Amani (Lebanon)
36- June 23rd – Closing gala
37- Georgette Gebara (Lebanon) and Amani
38- 39- Finalists of the contest during the Closing Gala
40- Nicole ( Naomi Suzuki – Japan)-
41- Pearl (Naomi Murakami – Japan)
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43- Kagura (Emi Fukazawa-Japan) –
44- Kagura (Emi Fukazawa-Japan) –
45- Kagura (Emi Fukazawa-Japan) – Individual cathegory
46- Elaine Rollemberg (Brazil) – Individual cathegory
47- Meg Mayya (Megumil Hamamura – Japan) Individual cathegory
48- Elaine Rollemberg (Brazil), Nicole ( Naomi Suzuki – Japan),
49- The teachers, pupils , sponsors and organization team together The feeling of a very job done
50- Rabyia (Robin Blackley – Australia), Elaine Rollemberg (Brazil), Amani (the Sponsor), |
Resources:
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Author’s bio page- Gabriel, Helwa
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www.amaniorientalfestival.com
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Said el Amir
Aug 25, 2012 - 02:08:05
Hi to everybody!
Great article! It was really a special experience and lovely to meet so great colleagues!
I have just one thing to “beg for”: jomdance is a trademark ® and therefore I would like to ask you to use the correct writing: “jomdance”. Also at the beginning of a sentence it’s written in small letters.
Thank you for your understanding.
Faithfully
Said el Amir