{"id":997,"date":"2009-11-11T21:32:43","date_gmt":"2009-11-12T04:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=997"},"modified":"2009-11-11T21:33:39","modified_gmt":"2009-11-12T04:33:39","slug":"deniseaws09p3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/11\/11\/deniseaws09p3\/","title":{"rendered":"

Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival 2009<\/h3>"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Raqia<\/a><\/p>\n

Page 3:Competition Winners, & Closing Gala<\/h2>\n

Photos by Denise Marino<\/a>
\ntext by Leyla Lanty<\/a>
\nposted November 11,\t2009
\nPage 1: Opening Gala<\/a>, Page 2: Teachers<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s June 27, 2009, in Cairo, Egypt, which can mean only one thing \u2013 the Opening Gala of Raqia Hassan<\/span>‘s Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival<\/span>!\u00a0At the Mena House hotel<\/a> the excitement in the air is palpable, not only because of the highly anticipated evening show where dancers from all over the world gather to see the top dancers, musicians, and singers in Egypt, but the next week of classes with Egyptian stars and teachers from all over the world, nightly parties, and the Closing Gala, a spectacular evening of top dancers, AWS competition winners, musicians, and singers.<\/p>\n

One feature of the nightly parties is the dance competition.  Although it’s one competition, it is spread over 2 or 3 nightly parties, with only some of the competitors performing each night until all have had a chance to perform once.  Judges for the AWS 2009 competition included Mo Geddawi<\/a>, Mona El Said<\/a>, Nabil Mabrouk<\/span>, and Katia<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Winners are chosen from the whole field of competitors with no semi-finals or finals.  The 2009 Winner of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Competition was Dariya Mitskevich<\/span> from the Ukraine, who received a gold ankh trophy, a performance slot in the Closing Gala and the opportunity to teach at AWS 2010. This year there were several teenage or younger competitors and Maria Litovka<\/strong>, Russian, won first place among them.  Both winners were outstanding dancers whose performances showed their artistry, musicality and talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Denise-"Not all the judges are there because evey night there were different judges except Katia & Mo Geddawi were there every night"<\/h5>\n
\"Judges\"
\nZaza Hassan on left & Nabil Mabrouk<\/h5>\n
\"judges\"
\nleft to right: Mo Geddawi<\/a>, Mona El Said<\/a>, Nabil Mabrouk, and Katia<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\n\t\"Dariya<\/h5>\n
Dariya Mitskevich of the Ukraine wins
\n\tFirst Place Winner Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2009<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"Dariya<\/span>
\n\tDariya Mitskevich <\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"Daria<\/span>
\n Dariya Miskevich with her trophy<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Closing Night Gala<\/h3>\n

Some of the entertainers and dancers in the Closing Gala were guest artist Jillina from California, Katia from Russia living in Egypt, Dalia from France living in Egypt, and the famous singer Saad el Soghayer."
\n\t\"Leyla
\n\t\tLeyla Jouvana and Roland<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n

 <\/h3>\n

\"Sayed
\n\t\tSaid El Artist
\n\t\t<\/h5>\n

Said el Artist \u2013 He and his highly talented and extremely well rehearsed percussion ensemble wowed the audience with percussion as no one had ever heard before.\u00a0 The show included some Nubian dancers and drummers along with some fine drum, tambourine, and cymbal soloists.\u00a0 Featured in the show were drum solos by some of the young boys in the El Artist family ranging in age from about 6 to 12 years.\u00a0 In the next photo, the accordionist on the right is Houda El Artist <\/strong>and the accordionist on the left is Sallah<\/strong>, two of Said\u2019s brothers.\u00a0 Behind Houda was another brother, Dede<\/strong> who in the past has been head drummer for Dina<\/strong> and Dandash<\/strong>.\u00a0Houda and Said own a recording\/rehearsal studio in Giza just off Haram Street, where my CD \u201cGolden Days, Enchanting Nights\u201d was conceived and put together.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\"Sayed
\n\t\tSaid El Artist<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"Katia\"Katia
\n\tKatia of Russia living in Egypt<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n\t\t<\/h5>\n
\"Dalia<\/h5>\n
Dalia is a French dancer living in Egypt<\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"Jillina\"Jillina
\n\t\tJillina of California, guest artist
\n\t<\/h5>\n

Jillina \u2013 Oh yes Jillina!!\u00a0 She knocked my socks off!\u00a0 As far as I know, she\u2019s had only one opportunity to rehearse with the band before being the final dancer at the Closing Gala.\u00a0 She looked as if she\u2019d been dancing with them for months if not years.\u00a0 She sparkled and shone throughout her performance \u2013 what a great way to end the dance performances at AWS 2009. [Ed note- article by Jillina on her experience coming soon!}\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\"Saad
\n\tSaad el Soghayer
\n<\/h5>\n

Saad el Soghayer \u2013 He and his wonderful orchestra and team of about 40 young male dancer -drummers lit up the night, energizing the whole room even though it was already 2:30 in the morning and it had been a long, long show already.\u00a0 He and his dance team moved out into the audience early on then to keep the excitement going, ended the show on stage with a number of the audience members dancing on stage with him.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\"Saad
\n\tSaad el Soghayer <\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\"Maria\"
\nMaria Litovka, winner of the children’s division gets to dance with Saad on closing night.
\nI saw her during the competitions during the week and her technique and musicality were both impressive.\u00a0 <\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\"Maria<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"Dariya
\n\tAs winner of the competition, Daria Miskevich gets to dance again on closing night with Saad el Soghayer<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"party\"
\nAmir Thaleb is the man in the center<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"party\"<\/h5>\n
Angelika, Princess Farhana and Fahtiem<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Just a few more photos from the Opening Night Gala…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Essam Karika<\/strong> is a very popular Egyptian singer who closed the Opening Night Gala.  His show includes a number of circus acts circulating among the audience while he sings, sometimes from atop a dining table.  There
\nwere stilt dancers who danced shaabi style up on top of their stilts, along with an assortment of characters: clowns, a man in a gorilla suit, raqs tannoura dancers twirling the big skirts above their heads, duff (hand drum) players in shirt, ties, and dress slacks.  Note from my diary "General pandemonium". \n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\"Stiltwalker\" \"Little<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"Essam
\n\tEssam Karika<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\"Essam \"clown\"<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n
\"party\"
\nMona Said is the woman in middle snapping her fingers.
\n<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\"dervish\"<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Denise Marino, world traveling professional photographer, who has been a featured photographer at the festival for several years, contributed these magnificent photos from AWS 2009 to the Gilded Serpent.
\nSee Denise’s bio page<\/a> for a list of more of her photos posted on Gilded Serpent and for links to her websites<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

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

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

<\/p>\n

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