Ramadan at Geneina Theatre, Azhar Park,2

Aziz Maraka and Razz Band (Jordan)


Thursday September 3rd at 9.30 pm Razz is a mix of rock, oriental and jazz music. Maraka was born in Tunisia and lived in Jordan, he studied music composition at the Academy of Jordan before moving to the University of Arkansas in USA to complete the study. He won first prize in musical composition for orchestra in 2002 within the activities of “Amman Capital of Arab Culture”. In 2008, the band released their first album “Master Copy”.

Ramadan at Geneina Theatre, Azhar Park,1

Luthomaina – Belgium/China/Morocco


The Chinese Pi-pa, the Arab Oud and the western Lute come together to converse in Luthomania. Xia-Hua (China), who studied music in China and Belgium and became a member of the Pi-pa Research Society, Abid El Bahri (Morocco) who studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels. Philippe Malfeyt (Belgium) who is a self-taught Lute player with a diploma in Lute Performance from the Royal College of Music in London, have been performing together in this exciting project around the world.

Ramadan at Geneina Theatre, Azhar Park,

Waed Bouhassoun (Syria)


Waed studied opera singing at the High Institute for Music in Damascus and oud playing with the Azerbaijani Oud Master Askar Ali Akbar. He participated twice in Al Motakhial Festival in the House of the Cultures of the World at the Institute De Monde Arabe in Paris, Assilah Festival in Morocco in 2006 and in Fes’s Festival of Sacred Music in 2007. Waed released her debut album “La Voix de l’amour”recently.

DANCEPIRATION December 12th, Sawi Cultural Centre, Zamalek

Dancepiration is a hip-hop show of talented dancers from all backgrounds and ages. Asaki Imai and Gigi Torres will be coming to Cairo to perform their best choreographed arts to the latest beats for Cairo’s audience. Imai is from Japan and is quickly gaining popularity in the Los Angeles hip-hop dance community and industry. Torres is originally from Irvine, California and has been training in all areas of dance since the age of 3. She is a world-renowned instructor, sharing her knowledge and love for dance from the East Coast to the West Coast and overseas in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Please check for change in date.

The Rat Pack Is Back December 2nd to 6th, Main Hall, Cairo Opera House

Relive the days of the Rat Pack with Las Vegas’ most famous entertainers, the only Vegas-based show .Four gifted actors/singers/ comedians, who are also impersonators of their respective legends,
will take you on an entertaining trip back to the iconic Copa Room of the Sands hotel. Even for those born after the swinging Las Vegas lounge era ruled by “The Rat Pack” (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and Joey Bishop), the touring tribute act will be a satisfying trip back in time. A time when men performed in tuxedos, and you could actually dance to the songs they sang. The show builds momentum gradually, as each singer delivers a solo set; they do numbers together; ending with an ensemble act for an upbeat finale. This is a high-spirited and laugh-out-loud show. Songs such as “Mr. Bojangles” and “The Lady is a Tramp” are interspersed with comedic acts. These interludes will have the audience erupting in laughter

The National Orchestra of Korea Thursday November 11th – Main Hall, Cairo Opera House at 8 pm

Opera Miramar is an adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz’s novel; it was turned into a full-length opera with overture, two acts, numerous well-developed characters and scene changes. The story takes place in the 1960s. The realistic set and characters play a part in breaking down the barrier of a serious opera. The story is about four different characters, each giving their own perspective on reality in an intimate monologue that moves between past and present. The monologues build a depressing picture of an ailing, painfully-fractured society, along with political, economic and social upheavals. Miramar is a well-produced opera, considering that it was hard to adapt the opera to the novel, as placing four actors on stage in succession and letting them do all the talking, while the scenes and characters flit silently on a screen behind is hard to execute. Over and above, Miramar is adapted as a libretto in colloquial Egyptian Arabic for a Western-style grand opera.

The Rottweiler Breed Show of Egypt December 11th at 10 am Sakkara Country Club

The Rottweiler Breed Show will be the first of its kind in Egypt and the Middle East. The event will be held at Sakkara Country Club. The event promises to showcase some of the finest Rottweilers in the country and will be judged by international judge Gere Tibor, one of the best Rottweiler experts in the world. This is a great opportunity to spend the day outdoors with friends and family. Guests can choose to compete with  their Rottweiler at the show or simply come as spectators. The event will also showcase K-9 demonstrations for police/protection and bomb detection dogs. Attending the show are a number of internationally acclaimed Rottweiler breeders such as Lidja Zec owner of Alten Festung Kennel and the proud owner of 2010 Rottweiler world champion Astor Von Junipera (who will also be competing in the show). Also in attendance will be Branko Lazic owner of Haus of Lazic Kennel, Darko Vaselic owner of Timit-Tor Kennel and Ales Lahajnar owner of Rottweiler Slovenia Kennel.

The Nutcracker Ballet Sunday December 26th to Wednesday 29th, Cairo Opera House

Every year in December, the Cairo Opera House performs the Nutcracker Ballet, with the Cairo Opera Ballet Company and Orchestra. The choreography and props for the ballet are excellent and it is a must-see show. Early reservations are preferable as the show is quite popular. The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E. T. A. Hoffmann. In 1891, the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the music for the ballet.

EGYPTAIR Express launches first flight to Al Arish

In line with the policy of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, headed by Air Marshall Ahmed Shafiq, to develop the Sinai Peninsula community and encourage more tourism in the area, the first flight of EGYPTAIR Express plane has arrived to the area of Al Arish arriving from Cairo. The domestic route operates through
a financing partnership between the North of Sinai governorate and Sama Al Arish Group of Companies. These efforts are also supported by EGYPTAIR Holding Company’s strategic plans in cooperation with the private sector and the investors to develop this sector. The direct flight (scheduled once a week at the moment) between Cairo and Al Arish, will boost flights to North Sinai which is considered to be one of the country’s most attractive touristic areas. Engineer Hussein Massoud, Chairman and CEO of EGYPTAIR Holding Company said that EGYPTAIR endeavors to cooperate with the private sectors in promoting
domestic travel and link the internal flights to the international network and Star Alliance program. Part of the land next to the airport, will be allocated to establish new premises for the Academy, for Aviation studies in Al Arish.

Flash News EGYPT’S TOURISM INDUSTRY IS RECOVERING FROM SLUMP

Egypt’s tourism industry, the country’s biggest source of foreign currency, is beginning to  recover from a slump caused by the global financial crisis, Tourism Minister, H.E. Mr. Zoheir Garranah
stated. Tourism revenue fell 9.5 percent in the first six months of 2009, an improvement from the 17 percent decline recorded in the first quarter, he added. Tourist arrivals in the first week of July
were higher than the same period a year earlier. Tourism earned Egypt $11 billion last year. The figures announced recently, imply revenue of about $2.6 billion in the second quarter of 2009, similar
to the year-earlier figure. Tourist numbers fell 8.7 percent in the first half of the year from a year earlier. Egypt attracted a total of 12.8 million visitors in 2008.

8th International Summer Festival – EAST & WEST Music Dance Theater Cinema Plastic Arts

The BA Arts Center is holding an annual international summer festival during July and August. The festival was initiated in 2002, even before the official inauguration of the library. In 2005, the title of the festival was “Light and Shadow”, in 2006 it was “First Time” featuring young artists with first appearance on stage, in 2007 it was “A Medium for Dance…A Medium for Expression” featuring folkloric and modern dance performances, and in 2008 it was “Day and Night”. This year, the festival is congregating a unique mixture of established classical musicians and emerging young professionals under the title of “East and West”. The festival features a special program counting dance, music, theater, Cinema and Plastic Arts. The Canadian dancing duo, Victor and Katia, who won the International Salsa Competition in Las Vegas in 2005, are participating for the third time this year in the festival. The Plastic Arts section this year is featuring three exhibitions. Alexandria
International Symposium -Sculpture in Natural Material (Mosaic), First-Time, and the Resident Artist. The International Symposium will host 23 artists from eight different countries; Austria, Egypt, England, Germany, Italy, Iran, Scotland and Sweden. Through the resident artist exhibition 17 artists were invited for a month to experience the city of Alexandria and follow the artistic activities of the Library to gain a renewed vision. In the Music section, the BA Orchestra, conducted by Sherif Mohie Eldin, will present five concerts accompanied by eminent artists such as Omar Khairat, Mounir Nasr El Din, Manal Mohie El Din and Nesma Abdelaziz. The second “SOS Music Festival – Friday Through Friday” is presenting 14 independent Bands performing their original compositions, in addition to a special night in which SAHRA, NAGHAM MASRY and MASSAR EGBARI will perform their songs in a an orchestral arrangement and accompanied by the BA Orchestra. Last, but not least, are two very special nights “From East and West” performed by Fernando Perez and Mohamed Antar (Spain / Egypt) and Cafe Antarsia Ensemble (USA). One of the highlights this year is the “BA 4th Music and Songs Competition”, where 20 highly competitive groups will share the stage for five days. Parallel to the competition the BA Arts Center is organizing the first “Cultural Forum” in Alexandria to provide a platform for cultural institutions and centers renowned for their artistic and cultural achievements to network, exchange information and present their projects.

Non Aligned Movement Conference in Sharm El Sheikh

The Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & The Maritim Jolie Ville in Sharm El Sheikh will host Presidents, Kings and VIP personalities attending the Non-Aligned Movement Conference, to be held from July 10th till July 17th 2009, at the hotel and the hotel’s Conference Centre.

Broadway Comes to Egypt

July 4th at 8 pm – Open Air Theatre July 5th at 8 pm – Gomhouria Theatre The U.S. Embassy in Egypt proudly invites you to an evening of American song and dance at “Broadway Comes to Egypt,” with excerpts from the legendary musicals West Side Story and Grease. The program is a unique collaboration
between the U.S. Embassy, the Cairo Opera House and American Voices, a U.S. arts association dedicated to bringing American music and culture to audiences around the world. Under the direction and choreography of American artists John Ferguson, Michael Parks
Masterson and Ira Spaulding, a cast of Egyptian and international singers and dancers will stage three spectacular performances in Cairo and Alexandria. Broadway Comes to Egypt will be in Alexandria on July 2 at 9 p.m. at the Roman Amphitheater and in Cairo on July 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. at Main Hall of the Cairo
Opera House. Tickets for the Alexandria performance are LE 10 and LE 15. Tickets for the Cairo performance are LE 10, LE 15 and LE 25. Tickets are available at the theaters’ box offices.

UAE’s Jinan signs first international deal to manage hotel for Egypt’s Minerva Travel

Jinan Hotels and Resorts, the first company to specialize in the running of sustainable hotels in the Middle East, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Minerva Travel to manage the Ein Shanda Hotel in Egypt.The management agreement will take effect after all development work on the hotel, which is located in
Dakhla Oasis in Egypt’s New Valley, will be completed during the first quarter of 2010. The Ein Shanda Hotel covers an area of approximately 32,892 square meters at the Al Dakhla Oasis in Egypt’s New Valley area, and consists of 25 suites, 40 rooms, 10 tents, shopping centers, a spa, a swimming pool, food outlets and a bar. The hotel also includes a cultural center, set in a separate building, which boasts a museum, conference hall and a library. The Governorate of New Valley is in close proximity to Luxor, and is ideal for sustainable tourism and adventures as sand, hills, valleys and mountains form 90% of the area. In addition, New Valley contains 120 historic areas belonging to the Pharaonic, Roman,
Coptic and Islamic periods, and overlooks numerous natural spots fit for entertainment purposes, such as Bilat Islamic Village, Bilat Pharaonic Village, Dair Al Hajar Temple, Al Bashandi Village, Al Qasr Islamic Village and Mazooka Historic Village.

First Graduates of the Cornell University Hotel Manager Program in Egypt

In partnership with the Egyptian Tourism Federation and under the auspices of H.E. Minister of Tourism,
Zoheir Garranah, the first Cornell University Hotel Manager Program In-Country Series came to a successful
end following a certification ceremony held at the Steigenberger Golf Resort in El Gouna Egypt. H.E. Zoheir Garranah, Ahmed El Nahas, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation; and Tom Kline, Executive Director of Executive Education at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, awarded certificates to the pioneering batch of 22 management executives who successfully completed the essential portion of the specially tailored two-part certificate program for hotel managers in Egypt and the region.
The In-Country Series unfolds over the course of two weeks with specialized learning from expert Cornell University faculty in Financial Management, Planning for Profits: Hotel Operations Decision Making, Strategic Marketing for Hotels and Restaurants and Leading and Motivating in the Real World. All courses were taught by distinguished professors from Cornell University. Cornell University School of Hotel Administration Hotel Manager Program certificates were awarded to those who have completed the two-part series, and certificates of completion from the Ministry of Tourism and Egyptian Tourism Federation were distributed to
everyone. At the graduation ceremony, Minister Garranah voiced his delight in witnessing the completion of the first Hotel Manager Program In-Country Series and meeting with each participant to hear fist hand about their experiences. Release issued by the Egyptian Tourism Federation

Flash News Egypt joins OECD

Due to the continued success of tourism in Egypt, the Organization for Economic Co-operat ion and Development (OECD) has appointed Egypt as a supervisor on the organization’s tourism committee. This decision came in light of the Egyptian Minister of Tourism, Mr. Zoheir Garanah’s request to have Egypt join the committee during his visit to Paris last April, where he presented a new portfolio of touristic projects in Egypt, as well as new marketing campaigns to promote the sector.Garanah further assured the Egyptian tourism’s ability to overcome various crises, which supports his appointment as the head of the crisis committee of the International Tourism Organization (ITO). The minister further explained that several training sessions for hoteliers are underway to guarantee the best services for tourists. Egypt is the first country in the Middle East to join the tourism committee. The OECD includes 30 countries as members, as well as China, Indonesia, South of Africa, India, Brazil, Russia and others as non-members.

Iñaki Urlezaga and Ballet Concierto

March 6th - 9th, Cairo Opera House Since its creation, “Ballet Concierto” has been continuously performing in the most important theatres and stages in the world. This Argentinian dance company has allowed Iñaki
Urlezaga to fulfill one of his dreams: to take his artistry and his dancers all over Argentina and the world. To assemble Ballet Concierto, demanding auditions are held every year to incorporate new talented dancers, as well as choreographers and teachers. Unique new productions have been especially created for
“Ballet Concierto” by noted choreographers, including Iñaki Urlezaga. Ballet Concierto will be showing at the
Cairo Opera House two performances Paquita: Among the ballets of the Romantic repertoire, Paquita is one of the most loved, in which a young girl triumphs alive and true, after series of villas and unreal creatures.
Brought up in a gypsy camp in Spain during the Napoleonic occupation, the girl saves the life of the officer Lucien who falls in love with her. Together they face many hardships to discover that Paquita is not a gypsy, but a girl of noble birth who then convoluted to just married her lover. Timing and character through the ballet
- sumptuous and glowing - by staging a sort of initiatory path for its protagonist, which winds through wide parts dance (an interesting pas de trois in Act I to the long series of dances that open the second ) and a good dose of pantomime (like the second scene of Act I). It closes, of course, with a grand pas de deux of the two
protagonists. Tango: Prodigious performer multiple spins and jumps, Inaki had a chance to shine in duets and solo variations. Although colorful, capricious was the electronic tango through the smoke, while the dancer repeatedly removes and sacks off his black suit, a move beyond repetitive seemed to have a particular intention to transfer.

DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE TO OPEN ON AUC’s NEW CAIRO CAMPUS

AUC’s Gerhart Theatre rings in the new year in early March with Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone, a wildly imaginative new American comedy about human connection in a fragmented, hightech world. Like a contemporary Alice in Wonderland, Jean, the play’s protagonist, embarks on a bizarre journey into memory, morality, and redemption after she answers a dead man’s phone and
becomes entangled in his strange relations. Written in 2007, Dead Man’s Cell Phone has drawn critical acclaim for Ruhl, recognized as one of the leading contemporary American playwrights.
AUC Theatre’s all student cast features Berfu Nisan Turkmenoglu as Jean and Nezar Alderazi as Gordon, the dead man. Other cast members include Noha El Kholy, Tanya Zaki, Adham Haddara,
Habiba Makhlouf, Seif Abdel Salaam, Mennatallah El Decken, Marwan Kandil, and Sarah Yassin. The play is directed by AUC Theatre Professor Frank Bradley, with scenery and lighting by David Wlodarski and costumes by Dina Abdelaziz.Performance dates and times for Dead Man’s Cell Phone are March 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 at 7:00 PM, and March 5 and 6 at 5 PM. Tickets went on sale 21 February at the AUC Theatre Box Office, Center for the Arts, New Cairo Campus and at the AUC Bookstore, Downtown Campus. Ticket prices are LE 20. The Gerhart Theatre is located in the AUC Center for the Arts, accessible via Gate 1 (Visitor’s Gate), AUC New Cairo Campus. Complementary bus service is provided from AUC’s Downtown Campus to the New Campus.

FINNISH-EGYPTIAN MUSICAL BRIDGE IS BACK this month March 26th, 28th and 29th at 8 pm,

Cairo Opera House, Small Hall The Egyptian-Finnish Musical Bridge, a brainchild of the famous Finnish pianist and conductor Ralf Gothoni, in cooperation with Cairo Opera House, is back again in Cairo for three performances in March. The Musical Bridge is a week-long musical workshop, including master classes and joint performances between virtuoso Egyptian and Finnish musicians and opera singers. It aims at enhancing cultural relations and promoting Egyptian musical talent. Some Egyptian artists are later invited to perform in famous Finnish musical festivals like Savonlinna Opera Festival. The Finnish-Egyptian Musical Bridge is held
annually to entertain classical music enthusiasts not only in Egypt but all over the Arab world. This year, the program consists of three concerts led by the Finnish maestro Ralf Gothoni and many talented Finnish and Egyptian performers. The program will include two different chamber concerts and one opera gala concerts. The schedule of concerts is as follows: • Friday 26th. A Chamber Concert (Boccherini and • Mozart)
• Sunday 28th. Chamber concert with young Egyptian musicians • Monday 29th. Opera Gala Concert

Swing jazz sensation Royal Crown Revue for the first time in the Middle East

This hit band’s hip lyrics and energetic rhythms have captivated audiences since the band’s founding in 1989. Royal Crown Revue’s appearance in the 1994 film The Mask with Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz propelled them to stardom and launched a swing music revival across the United States. The eight members of the Royal Crown Revue will play four concerts on their Egypt tour: March 9: Performance at Intercontinental Hotel – at 11 pm for 60 minutes: Rithmo March 10: Performance at Cairo University Central Library – at 3 pm for 90 minutes - free of charge for Cairo university students + Evening master class with Egyptian performers, talking about the business of performing, showmanship and touring March 11: Master Class in Damanhour March 12: Performance at Cairo International Jazz Festival – Al Sawy Culture Wheel at 7:30 pm for 90 minutes Since exploding out of L.A.’s underground scene in 1989, Royal Crown Revue’s unique
combination of swing, jump, jive and jazz has yielded a dream career in the music industry. Behind the timeless voice of Eddie Nichols, RCR has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious venues, from the Hollywood Bowl to Radio City Music Hall. RCR has also worked with a stunning variety of top artists
– from James Brown to Bette Midler to Gene Simmons. And the band’s music – in particular the breakout track “Hey Pachuco!” - has been featured in countless motion pictures, television shows, and commercials.