Latest news with #Maqamat
Scotsman
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dance People, EIF Dance review - 'part-dance, part-activist-art'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dance People Old College Quad ★★★☆☆ It's not unheard of for performers to greet audiences on their way out of the theatre, but rarely does a show begin with dancers stepping forward to shake your hand and introduce themselves. The cast of Dance People walk among us as we mill at the edge of the Old College Quad, asking our names, gently explaining that we might be invited to take part but everything is optional. Inside the quad, behind a red ribbon, a DJ on a high scaffold begins to blare questions: 'Are you here alone? Are we individuals? Citizens?' We are asked to cut the ribbon, and into the quad we flow. Dance People | © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan The boundaries between performer and audience are porous in this piece by Lebanese-French company Maqamat, led by choreographers Omar Rajeh and Mia Habis. It's part-dance, part-activist-art and thoroughly immersive (although the promenade staging doesn't always scream accessibility). Sometimes we are shepherded into a circle to watch the dancers, sometimes we mill around. We are handed red envelopes that contain extracts from letters of historical resistance, and later fragrant cups of herbal tea. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The quad initially feels like a marketplace, a site of convivial gathering. A dance party unfolds and we politely watch at first, obedient to our role as audience members, before being invited to join in for a euphoric rave. This elation is far from the climax though, and Rajeh and Habis, in their quest to explore division and power, pull us through moods of defiance, contemplation and intimidation. It's a fractured piece, not always intelligible. But there is something particularly raw and moving, given the current genocide taking place in Gaza, in hearing Ziad El Ahmadie's majestic oud playing and seeing Arabic poetry projected onto the quad walls. When Rajeh picks up a crumpled roll of paper and holds it like a shrouded child the image is devastating and unforgettable. LUCY RIBCHESTER until 10 August
Scotsman
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The best EIF dance - Scotsman critic Kelly Apter previews the 2025 programme
Scotsman critic Kelly Apter on the dance highlights in this year's Edinburgh International Festival programme Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Dan Daw Show Despite focusing on pain, shame and humiliation, there is a surprising amount of joy to be found in The Dan Daw Show. This acclaimed two-hander charts Daw's experience of living with cerebral palsy. Years of being told by doctors that his body was 'wrong', and of being taunted in the street with cruel slurs or patronising comments, have led to this 90 minutes of glorious empowerment. Fellow dancer Christopher Owen may seem to be in charge, as he carries out various dominant acts on Daw's body(see picture, right). But we are never left in any doubt that Daw is in complete control, in this funny, touching, occasionally challenging and highly entertaining show. The Lyceum, 2-4 August The Dan Daw Show Dance People The theme for this year's Edinburgh International Festival may be 'The truth we seek', but within the dance programme it could just as easily be collaboration, as all five pieces are born out of a creative coming together of two or more entities. Dance People is collaboration writ large, with the entire audience invited to take part. Founded in Beirut and now based in Lyon, Maqamat dance company is the brainchild of Omar Rajeh. He co-choreographed Dance People with Mia Habis, forging relationships with composers, architects, writers, activists and citizens along the way, and all of these people have helped shape what Rajeh terms a 'non-conventional performance gathering'. Exploring ideas of space – how it is used, how it is distributed – this world premiere is activism through art, and an exciting opportunity for us to use our bodies to have our voices heard. Old College Quad, 7-10 August Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mary Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots The relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and England's Queen Elizabeth I is a long-running source of fascination, and so much excitement surrounds Scottish Ballet's upcoming world premiere, Mary, Queen of Scots. Choreographer Sophie Laplane has created some great works for the company in the past (Dextera, Maze, Oxymore), and her collaboration with director James Bonas (who also worked on Scottish Ballet's production of The Crucible) is a hugely promising prospect. Festival Theatre, 15-17 August Breaking Bach
Al Etihad
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
5-week Abu Dhabi jazz celebration kicks off with All-Star Global Concert on International Jazz Day on April 30
29 Apr 2025 18:36 TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi, the official Global Host City of International Jazz Day 2025, is ready to host the world's biggest jazz celebration with five weeks of non-stop music and events. International Jazz Day is celebrated in more than 190 countries, and the party starts on April 30 with the All-Star Global Concert, being staged at the Etihad Arena on Yas extraordinary event will bring together world-renowned artists, led by Herbie Hancock, a multiple Grammy-winning jazz icon. The lineup features some of the most celebrated and award-winning acts in jazz, promising to deliver a world-class performances will blend together Maqamat, rhythmic complexity and Western harmonies, creating a rich, genre-defying soundscape that embodies the global spirit of five-week-long festival is organised by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz."We are thrilled to celebrate this International Day on a high note in the UNESCO Creative City of Music Abu Dhabi. This edition will highlight the city's rich tapestry of creativity and cultural heritage while showcasing jazz's ability to connect communities and promote dialogue and peace across continents," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Dhabi will serve as a vibrant centre of this worldwide celebration, hosting a five-week, citywide series of jazz performances, education programmes and community Jazz Day 2025 will feature thousands of events worldwide in small towns and major cities, from intimate performances to large-scale concerts at leading cultural centres. Artists, educators, and institutions across the globe will organise masterclasses, jam sessions, panel discussions, and educational workshops, reflecting the profound impact of jazz as a unifying force. All-Star Global Concert The All-Star Global Concert on April 30 will be led by iconic pianist Hancock and hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, and will bring together an extraordinary lineup of renowned jazz, blues, classical, and hip-hop artists from around the diverse list of regional and international acts includes: Arqam Al Abri (UAE), John Beasley (USA), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), A Bu (China), Terri Lyne Carrington (USA), Kurt Elling (USA), Ruthie Foster (USA), José James (USA), Rhani Krija (Morocco), John McLaughlin (UK), Hélène Mercier (France/Canada), Marcus Miller (USA), Linda May Han Oh (Australia), John Pizzarelli (USA), Dianne Reeves (USA), Arturo Sandoval (USA), Naseer Shamma (Iraq), Danilo Pérez (Panama), and Varijashree Venugopal (India), among said: "Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope."The concert at Etihad Arena will also be streamed live to millions around the world via UNTV, UNESCO, Facebook, YouTube and other international media partners. Full Month of Events in Abu Dhabi Building on the momentum of International Jazz Day, Jazz Month Abu Dhabi will extend the global festivities and reinforce jazz's presence in the region. It will include live performances, pop-up concerts, workshops, artist residencies and educational events, underscoring jazz's connections to diverse musical traditions and artistic will be held at major cultural and educational institutions, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi and New York University Abu Dhabi, along with hospitals, senior centres, children's libraries and performances will highlight jazz's integration with traditional instruments such as the oud, qanoon, and ney, showcasing the ongoing dialogue between jazz and local cultural expressions. This year's International Jazz Day also coincides with the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, a global, annual gathering that brings together a collective of creative thinkers, decision-makers, artists, designers, changemakers, and leaders from the culture and creative industries. The Summit will include special programmes including panels and conversations with Hancock and other renowned artists.
Observer
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Ramadhan in art: A mosaic of devotion and heritage
Ramadhan is a time of devotion, charity and spiritual introspection. It is observed in diverse ways in different parts of the world. Still, the literary and artistic manifestations across time reflect how this diversity is a comment on the unity of faith. In an article entitled 'Ramadhan as subject', writer Ibtisam Ahmed explores many artistic manifestations of Ramadhan across time and space. For example, she shows the origin of the fanoos, the lantern, in Cairo around 969 CE when the then-ruler was welcomed in the night with lights to show the way. The ruler liked the atmosphere so much that he ordered these lanterns to be used regularly. Eventually, of course, the lantern became an integral part of Ramadhan festivities, with various versions being used to decorate Iftar gatherings and even greeting cards. Lamps are also important in the way that they were used to remind people of the morning Suhoor and prayer. An early poetic work, the Maqamat, is a collection of 50 stories by Al Hariri Al Basri, related Quranic stories and riddles. Its illustration in 1236 CE contains a beautiful etching of a Ramadhan procession. In the Ottoman court, there is evidence of a variety of discussions of the various aspects of Ramadhan, including the importance of fasting, prayer and charity. These discussions are said to be reflected in 'Ramazaniye', an 18th century CE collection of Ramadhan reflections. In Persia, copies of Hafez's 'Divan' include a miniature of the sighting of the moon before Eid Al Fitr. There are also many miniatures depicting Ramadhan and Eid observances in the rich collection of the Mughal Empire. These include miniatures in the official commissioned biographies Babarnama and Shahnama, in addition to many other beautifully illustrated books. Interestingly, early literary works seem to be just texts, with visuals in the form of etchings, paintings, miniatures and calligraphy being added to later editions as these works travelled to different regions. When literary traditions turned to prose, many writers began to espouse the virtues of devotion and charity during Ramadhan in ways that were more accessible to various people. Ahmed Rasim, for example, portrayed Ramadhan in the Ottoman period in great detail through stories and memoirs. There is often regret that the joy of togetherness as shared by communities before seems to have gone away. Yet, writers and artists still celebrate the social unison that Ramadhan makes possible. Amy Hackney Blackwell, for example, brought together a series of superb photographs in her book 'Ramadhan' that depicts the holy month and its observances across the world. As writer Ali Tûgekci says, 'after you finish the book, the common aspects of Ramadhan and the spirit of unity in the Muslims all around the world are bound to stay with you'. The true spirit of Ramadhan lies in the devotion it inspires and the sense of community it invokes. Art forms through time have illustrated the various manifestations of this holy month while retaining its central spiritual function.
