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"Sovereign Threads: the History of Palestinian Embroidery" was on display recently at the Craft and Folk Art Museum

Sovereign Threads

An with Roxanne Varzi at
Pacific Arts Center
Introduced by Behzad Tabatabai.

Macedonian-Arabic Fusion
with Goran Alachki, Ljupco Manevski, Naser Musa
& Souhail Kaspar, Jan. 15

"The Arab/Muslim Revolution: the Middle East & the West"
a conference with Islamic scholar Reza Aslan and Middle East historian Mark LeVine
See Calendar, Jan. 12, 2006

Don't miss the next Sultans of Satire show on Thurs., Dec. 15, and read about the first one... Middle East Comic Relief, Thurs., Nov. 17, 8 pm. Click here.

Levantine Cultural Center cosponsored the 2005 Los Angeles Film Festival, which included several films with Middle Eastern themes or subjects.

Levantine Center recommends Sally Potter's YES

Levantine Center recommends LILA SAYS by Ziad Doueiri

Robin Soans' U.S. premiere of the play "The Arab-Israeli Cookbook" runs at the MET Theatre through June 26

May 20 (Friday) more than 30,000 people around the world and 10,000 in Israel/Palestine flew kites for peace.

Sholeh Wolpé, Nathalie Handal Reading, May 6

The Naser Musa-Adam del Monte Ensemble performed Arab-flamenco fusion on Dec. 19, 2004. Click here for info.

Iraqi-American Playwright and Actor Heather Raffo and Her One-Woman Show, "Nine Parts of Desire," Are the Talk of New York and Los Angeles

Live in L.A., Iraqi Quartet
Angam Al-Rafidain, the
Iraqi maqam/Chalgi Baghdadi Ensemble, Sun, Oct., 3, 7 p.m

Al-Andalus to Jerusalem:
Levantine Festival at the
John Anson Ford



Al-Andalus
with Tariq Banzi, Julie Banzi
and flamenco dancer Ana Montes

Click Here To Read
Three Articles on the Concert

Edward Said Memorial Page
Read His Last Essay

About the Class:
Come learn an ancient art form made for the modern women-belly dancing, or in Arabic raks sharki. This is classical Egyptian dance and instructor Jamilla Al Wahid guides students through a great workout, using techniques that are easy and adaptable to your body.

Classes start with a meditation to peel off that work-day residue, a warm-up that will have you work up a sweat.

Attire is easy, comfort works! Leotards, t-shirt, tank top, yogi wear…Hip scarves are available for purchase.
Classes are designed in all stages, from beginning to advanced, ages 16-100. ***Kids class coming this summer***

8 sessions dance card $100, or drop-ins, $16 per class. Space is limited. Please register via email or call 323.540.2711.

At Levantine Cultural Center, contemporary cultures of the Middle East since 2001.

About the Instructor
Jamilla Al Wahid was born in Ely, England and moved to Sacramento California when she was young. Her mother Fatima Al Wahid introduced her to Middle Eastern dancing by taking classes from a local teacher in 1980. Watching her mom and the other students in class, at 8 years old Jamilla soon grew interested in this enchanting art form. Studying from the greats Ibrahim Farrah, Horacio Cifeuents, Ma'shuqa Murjan, Elena Lentini, Mariano Parra, Sohair Zaki, Raqia Hassan, Bert Balladine and Feiruz Aram. Jamilla began to teach and travel performing professionally at the age of 16. Jamilla's interpretation and unique style of Classical Oriental and amazing Egyptian Isolated hip articulation is effortless an mesmerizing.

Jamilla's down to earth style of teaching has dancers and sponsors interest in having her, as well as attending her dynamic workshops.

Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2004 Jamilla continues to travel around the world performing and teaching. Jamilla has also put out a few instructional and performance videos and looks forward to developing a Los Angeles base troupe.

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