{"id":3794,"date":"2012-02-11T18:34:35","date_gmt":"2012-02-12T01:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=3794"},"modified":"2012-03-26T08:33:09","modified_gmt":"2012-03-26T15:33:09","slug":"gabriel-amani-oriental-festival-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2012\/02\/11\/gabriel-amani-oriental-festival-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Amani Oriental Festival Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 25-29, 2011, Beirut, Lebanon<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Amani\"<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n

Most photos by Gabriel Monserrat Lopez<\/a>
Introduction by Lucia<\/a>
\nadditional help and some photos from Aradia
posted February 11, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\n

Intro, Opening Gala photos<\/a>, Saturday Finals<\/a>, Workshops<\/a>, Tours & Shopping<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

On October 25 \u2013 29, 2011, Amani <\/a>of Lebanon hosted the Amani Oriental Festival 2011<\/span> in Beirut, Lebanon. The show and workshops were held at the Al Madina Theatre<\/span> in downtown Beirut. The organizers included, Amani, Ali Reda<\/span> and the Amani Team. The event attracted performers from around the world, and instructors from North America, Central America, the Middle East and Europe. There was media from the LBC<\/span> and the opening and closing night sceremonies were televised and internationally broadcasted. <\/p>\n

As a professional performer, I was impressed with the high caliber of dance instructors. The majority of instructors were Lebanese and offered a diverse repertoire of Lebanese Oriental and folkloric technique with emphasis in dramatic moves, staging and communication through movement with modern dance components.<\/p>\n

Classes were offered in makeup, staging, use of props. There were also special ethnic classes in Morrocan tray, Brazilian Samba Fusion, Flamenco Fusion, Indian Doholla, Dabke, and more. <\/p>\n

This was my first time being in Lebanon and it was a thrilling experience. I have traveled several times to the Middle East and attended weeklong+ seminars\/Festivals in Turkey, Egypt and throughout the USA. The classes were smaller in size than the Ahlan Wa Sahlan<\/a><\/span>, or Little Egypt<\/a><\/span>\u2019<\/a>s Intensive seminars, so we received more individualized attention. Instructors were close by, so we could see their every move, their emotional flare and sense the spirit of dance. <\/p>\n

The students were more polite \u2013 no charging, pushing to get to the front of the stage. It was as if everyone was there to learn as a professional, to enjoy and share the passion of dance and to treat one as a professional. Our questions were answered on the spot, and we were permitted to review material several times. It was delightful. <\/p>\n

The competition was held on Wednesday, October 26 with a preliminary round. Applicants were previously required to submit 2 pieces of music by email to the Amani Team, subject to the posted rules. At the preliminary round, judges (instructors, including Amani) watched each performer dance to the 2 pieces of music. Competitors were picked in random order, and we were permitted to watch each other. <\/p>\n

On Saturday afternoon, finalists for the competition were announced. That evening, the 11 finalists performed and additional judges were summoned to watch and score each dancer. The audience also participated with wild cheers and clapping. After the 2nd round, 6 performers were selected to compete in the final round to a \u2018surprise\u2019 piece of music, selected by the Amani Team. Amani performed and captivated the audience with her exquisite technique and passionate, fluid moves. The entire closing ceremony was televised, with celebrity vocalists and musicians. In the final round, all 6 competitors danced on stage to one of Amani-Bassem Yazbek<\/span>\u2019s famous drum solos. This was a very exciting event and I was thrilled to participate and win 2nd place. The awards ceremony was held at the end of the evening and each competitor received a certificate for their efforts. This was a fun, gracious ending to a fabulous seminar.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\n

<\/a>Opening Gala<\/h2>\n

Wednesday October 25, 2011
\nAl Madina Theatre, Beirut Lebanon<\/h3>\n

\"Amani<\/p>\n

Amani<\/span> is interviewed by a local TV station there covering opening night.
\nShe is wearing a tradition Lebanese princess outfit. <\/p>\n

\"Amani\"<\/p>\n

Amani dances and emcee’d the show in the princess outfit<\/p>\n

\"Amani<\/p>\n

Amani<\/span> and Maya Gaorry<\/span> backstage<\/p>\n

\"Amani<\/p>\n

Amani Jabril <\/span>of Georgia, USA, teacher performs in Opening Gala<\/p>\n

\"Aradia\"<\/p>\n

Aradia<\/span> of Las Vegas, NV<\/p>\n

\n\"Duet<\/p>\n

Perla<\/span> and her group perform Moroccoan Shihat <\/p>\n

\"Dalylah\"<\/p>\n

Dalyla<\/span> of Spain<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Double<\/p>\n

Double sword dance by Margo Kalfayan<\/span> of Lebanon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Folkloric\"<\/p>\n

The folkloric dance troupe, SAWA<\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"George\"Lucia\"<\/p>\n

Georgia Schmid<\/strong> and Lucia Herlinda<\/strong> dance to Walid Assaf <\/strong>
\nThey are both members of Morwenna<\/strong> and Walid<\/strong>‘s dance group which is based in Los Angeles, CA<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Helena<\/p>\n

Helena Rull<\/strong> of Spain performs Double Veil.
\n[editor’s note -notice awesome snake costume!]<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Helwa<\/p>\n

Munir Nellmeldin<\/span> (From Argentina, taught Dabkeh) and Helwa<\/span> (From Brazil, taught Oriental Samba Fussion)
\nHelwa’s husband, Gabriel<\/span>, is the photographer for most of these photos. They live in Spain.<\/p>\n

\"Helwa\"<\/p>\n

Helwa<\/span> doing Samba Oriental<\/p>\n

\"Maya\"<\/p>\n

Maya Gaorry<\/a> of <\/span> Italy.<\/p>\n

\"Munir\"<\/p>\n

Munir Nellmled<\/strong> in Dabkeh dance<\/p>\n

\"Georgette\"<\/p>\n

Nayin<\/strong> dances as a Georgette Bebara<\/strong> choreography. She is part of
\nGerogette Gebara’s ballet and modern dance company.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Singer\"<\/p>\n

Singer Marwan Al Chami<\/span> thrilled audience with his folkloric songs<\/p>\n

\"Morwena<\/p>\n

Morwenna<\/span> and Walid Assaf<\/span>. <\/p>\n

\"Dancers<\/p>\n

Dancers join the singer onstage for the finale before intermission. <\/p>\n

\"Walid\"<\/p>\n

Below- Walid Assaf exciting Lebanese rhythms
\nMizmar player Ali Al Madbouh<\/span> and Tabl player.<\/p>\n

\"Georgette<\/p>\n

Gerogette Gebara<\/span> saying thank you after receiving lifetime acheivement award.
\nGeorgette is a famous teacher in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\"Sumana,<\/p>\n

Sumaya<\/span> won 1st place.
\nThis photo of her in the black costume is from dancing in prelimniaries on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\"Giada\"
\nGiada <\/span>of Italy Made it into the first round of finals<\/p>\n

\"Jeanine<\/p>\n

Jeanine Khoury<\/span> of Lebanon, competed in prelims Wednesday night<\/p>\n

\"Mi-ki<\/p>\n

Mi-Ki<\/span> of Japan dancing in the prelims on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Saturday Finals Night<\/h2>\n

\"Amani<\/p>\n

Amani<\/span> with a few of the winners on the Finals Night
\n1- Diaini Vacaro<\/span> of Brazil living in Lebanon, 2- Sumaya<\/span> of Bella Russia wins 1st place-"Sultana",
\n3- Amani, 4-Maria de Fatima<\/span> of Portugal, 5- Lucia Herlinda<\/a>, 6- Skurchinska Svetlana<\/span> of Ukraine. <\/p>\n

\"Certificates\"
\nlinked to enlargement<\/a><\/p>\n

At the end of the Closing Gala, all the teachers, pupils, and contestants received a certificate of participation.<\/p>\n

\"CLaudia
\nClaudia Jovel <\/span>of the USA. She is student of Aradia from Las Vegas.

\nIn this photo she is competing in the finals.<\/p>\n

\"1st
\n1st winner- Sumaya<\/span> of Bella Russia– with trophy<\/p>\n

\"Lucia
\nLucia Herlinda<\/span> 2nd place. Here she is competing during the Finals on Saturday<\/p>\n

\"3rd<\/p>\n

3rd place winner- Skurchinska Svetlana<\/span> of the Ukraine.
\nCompeting during the Closing Gala.<\/p>\n

\"Diana<\/p>\n

Diaini Vacaro<\/span> of Brazil won the "Audience Award of Presence"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Silvia<\/p>\n

Sivia Schori<\/span> of Switzerland received the "Audience Award for Elegance"<\/p>\n

\"Fadi<\/p>\n

Fadi Harb<\/span> sings to Georgette who is sitting in the audience on Saturday. This accurred Midway through the 2nd half.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Workshops<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bedouine Dance Workshop taught by Lebanese Teacher, Francois Rahmeh<\/strong>
\n1-?, 2- Diliani from Spain with flower in hair, 3-?, 4 Helwa, 5-?, 6- Perla in red scarf, 7-?, 8-? <\/p>\n

\"workshop\"<\/p>\n

Amani’s workshop<\/p>\n

\"Helwa
\nFun during a workshop
\nHelwa and with Mi-ki<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Amani<\/p>\n

Tony Hanna<\/span> (in black hat) dancing with group. Tony owns this beautiful restaurnat in Byblos on the ocean.
\nHe is a well known performing and recording artist .\n<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Restaurant\"
\nlinked to enlargement<\/a><\/p>\n

The tour lunch was at Tony Hanna<\/span>‘s "O de Mer" restaurant. His restaurant is on the beach in the old city of Jbeil. <\/p>\n

1- Claudia, 2-Lucia, 3-Silvia Schori, 4- Aradia. 5-Selene of Las Vegas, 6-?, 7-?, 8-Amani, 9-(behind Amani) 10- Munir, 11-Perla Elias, 12-Christina del Vecchio, 13- Helwa, 14-Alma de Flores, 15- Jessica Alaimo of Argentina in blue and white, 16- Dalylah al Qmar (in bangs) who translated the whole class, 17-Mi-ki, 18?<\/p>\n

\"Dancing
\nParticipant dance the debke during the Munir’s workshop held at the restaurant<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>TOUR and SHOPPING<\/h2>\n

Thursday’s Excursion: Bus tour to Byblos, Jouneih, Castle
\nEvening Dabke class with Mounir Nellmeddine
\nDinner at Tony Hanna’s restaurant, Byblos<\/p>\n

\"Shopping
\nShopping on tour. Aradia models a Lebanese wedding outfit- it also came with the pointed hat!<\/p>\n

\"COffee
\nCoffee the Lebanese way. We went to a castle and then we walked into this room. The man in the fez is holding percusion instrument that he plays by striking it with a stick. <\/p>\n

Names L-R: 1-student of Amani Jabril, Linda, 2-Aradia posing (only!) with argeela, 3- musican.4-unknown camo guy, 5-lady in black is in Perla’s dance group, 6-Lucia, 7-Mario Harb II of Green Lights with camera– see on facebook. <\/p>\n

\"Palace\"
\nBeiteddine Palace
\n1-Teresa, 2-Amani Jabril, 3- American girl?, 4- Georgia, 5- in red shirt ,Perla, 6- Aradia, 7- sun glasses?, 8-sunglasses on head?, 9- brunette- Perla’s girl?, 10- Helwa, 11 ?, 12- Japanese girl in hat, 13, sun glasses?, 14-?, 15-Japanese girl, 16-Japanese girl, 17-Dalyla, 18-Linda<\/p>\n

\"Harem\"
\nlinked to enlargement<\/a>
\nThe harem at the Beiteddine Palace<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just a couple more photos from Aradia to show more mileau!<\/h4>\n

\"Shopping<\/p>\n

\"Hamra<\/p>\n

\"Tony<\/p>\n

\"Beach<\/p>\n

Next year’s festival will be held…….. next festival June 19-23, 2012
\nfor more information see….http:\/\/www.amanionline.com\/<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"use<\/h2>\n
\n

Have a comment? Use or comment section at the bottom of this page or Send us a letter!<\/a>
\nCheck the "Letters to the Editor<\/a>" for other possible viewpoints!<\/p>\n

Ready for more?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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