Giza Club Events

Coming up (hopefully): (date to be announced) We have acquired the Naguib Mahfouz trilogy movies. So to those of you who haven't read Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, and Sugar Street: now would be the time. Those of you who have read them, bone up and review so you can fill us in.

The books introduced by Debbie are available for purchase at Amazon.com for those who want to discuss them in future.
Select the links below to go to the Amazon pages with the descriptions of the books.

Looking for Wacky Women Travellers
Amina needs to schedule more events in this series. If you have done something wacky or otherwise and would like to share, please let us know. We would like to schedule our Egyptian travellers (of course) and ???. Linda may contribute later with her recent trip to the Algerian rock desert with the Tuaregs.
E-mail Amina if you have an idea.

Drum Classes
Susu Pampanin's classes in San Francisco and Santa Rosa are on hiatus. Contact Susu at (415)- 308-7887 for privates.
Amina is doing drum classes for dancers (breaking down songs, rhythms, beg. technique) every other week 3:15-4:30 ($10) on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.

La Kahena- Les Voix Du Maghreb by Cheb i Sabbah

Cheb i Sabbah returns to the Lower Haight! World music DJ Cheb i Sabbah produces his special brand of unique global mixes. His latest is "La Kahena" a mix of music from the Maghreb. He knows EVERYTHING about Middle Eastern music. His Wednesday night parties are great places to practice your dance moves. 1002 NIGHTS: Every Wednesday at Underground SF 420 Haight St. at Webster San Francisco, CA 10PM-2AM $5.00 21+ www.undergroundsf.com. www.chebisabbah.com

PEÑA PACHAMAMA CONCERTS-various days, San Francisco, CA
Arabic violinist Georges Lammam. and friends play the best of multi-ethnic fusion at "San Francisco’s most fun underground club" (per the 2002 ZAGAT Survey-"Best of San Francisco"). Excellent fresh organic Bolivian cuisine. Now featuring mouth-watering Bolivian tapas! Cover charge was $10.00 last time, but check with them.
Peña Pachamama
1630 Powell Street
(between Union & Green) North Beach
San Francisco
Mapquest directions.
Reservations 415-646-0018
It's a small venue, so reservations are advised. Parking is challenging.
If you would like their newsletter mailed to you, e-mail pachamamapena@aol.com.
Live Arabic music and dance on Sunday evenings.
Amorfia Productions and Peña Pachamama would like to offer Arabic dance teachers who are in the Bay Area or will be in the Bay Area the opportunity to showcase their work and that of their students. Those interested will be given a specific date for their performances with live music. Amina and other musicians often sit in with Georges and the band.
Contact info@amorfiaproductions.com.
Admission, $10.
Currently Amina is scheduling dancers on the first Sunday of the month.
E-mail Amina for information or to sign up.

Ma*shuqa teaches a Sword, Shamadan, & Balancing Workshop-Saturday, April 26, 2008, Los Gatos, CA.
Monthly workshops at dancer Ma*Shuqa's studio. Ma*Shuqa also has the latest costumes from Istanbul and Cairo available for shopping at these events.
2:00 to 4:00 PM, $25.00
Ma*Shuqa's Studio
Reel Sound and Light Productions
15651 Camino Del Cerro
Los Gatos, CA
Tel: (408)-356-9473
E-mail ma_shuqa@hotmail.com
Watch for dates for Ma*shuqa's open stage haflas with dance performance opportunities.
New website: www.mashuqa.com.

Photo of Hala © Stephanie Bond

Live music dance parties with Hala-various Sundays, San Jose, CA. Egyptian-American dancer Hala brings Arabic musician Joe Kandalaft to her studio in San Jose for dance parties. Ongoing event on the second Sunday of every month. Check with Hala for latest scheduling. Bring your costume and sign up to dance at the door. 8-11pm, $10 donation, no exceptions. Halanda Studio 1062 Lincoln Ave San Jose, CA 95125 Check Hala's website for details on future events.

Med Alileche ©A. Bonham

"Mezza & Tapas"-Middle Eastern Music radio program on KKUP radio, 91.5 FM (Cupertino)-First Saturday of the month 6:00-9:00 pm AND the third Sunday of every month from 11:00am - 1:00pm. Hala Fauzi hosts this program of "Middle Eastern, Arabic and African music & information, including local artists and a calendar of related cultural events and festivals, thriving to close the gap between cultures and explore the uniting power of the arts." Tamazight artist Moh Alileche and his new CD "North Africa's Destiny" was recently featured. Please send Hala your community events and any musical or cultural requests the Friday before.

Photo courtesy & © Faraz

Drum Classes with Faraz- Palo Alto, CA. Instruction in the fundamentals of playing Doumbec (goblet drum), Daff (frame drum), or Riqq (tamborine). Contact Faraz for firm session dates. Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 7:15-8:45 pm 3433 Ashton Ct., Palo Alto, Ca. 94306 E-mail Faraz for more info. www.meridianmajor.com

"Selsebil" Elias Lammam's latest CD

Arabic Music and Maqam taught by Elias Lammam- Sundays, Alameda, CA. Contact Elias for session dates. Ensemble Class,10 -noon: Strings, clarinet, sax, trumpet, guitar, accordion and other western instruments join the traditional tabla, riq, ney, qanun,and oud in learning classical and contemporary Arabic repertoire.You do not need to have previous experience of Arabic music, but basic facility (intermediate-level or higher) on your instrument is necessary. Maqam and Iqa,12:30 -2:30: Learn the Arabic modes and rhythmic cycles,basic musical terminology,and a bit of Arabic music history. Classes are taught in Alameda,and each class costs $200 per 10-week session. Elias Lammam is a master teacher, composer and accordionist, recording with many well-known artists,and performing regularly with the Georges Lammam Ensemble.More information about Elias is available at www.amorfiaproductions.com. Don't miss this chance to study with a great teacher! For more information or to join the class,contact Elias Lammam at (510)814-9280 or e-mail.

Drumming Classes with Tony Lammam-Contact Tony for dates, San Francisco, CA.
Learn the basic techniques of the Arabic Drum "tabla". 10 class sessions - $100 OR $10 per class.
Please bring your own instruments. For more information call: (415) 664-2200, or email: info@arabculturalcenter.org for info.
For more information about Tony Lammam visit: www.antoinelammam.com

Workshops at World Dance Fitness-various dates, San Anselmo, CA
Join Dhyanis and Aruna for world dance workshops and parties at their beautiful Marin studio.
Coming up:
Saturday, April 19, 2008 7:30 - 9:30pm
ALL STAR REVUE & BLESSING OF PLANET EARTH. GALA EVENT!
Dances of the Dakini in all her colors and glory! Dancers: Dhyanis, Tigris, Bonny Meye, Le'ema, Tania Brooks, Josie Ortez plus masked dances with Maru Mattheia & Tuju Taksu Dance Theater. Drumming with Lisa Moscow and Sondra Slade of Axis Mundi. $15.00

July 21 thru July 25, 2008--GIRLS BELLYDANCE CAMP
World Dance Fitness
40 Greenfield Ave.
San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-457-8787
www.worlddancefitness.com

Egyptian Film Festival at Stanford-May 20-22, 2008.
Three evenings of Egyptian cinema. See poster on home page for schedule. Hosted by David Giovacchini, Middle East Collection, Stanford Libraries.
Cubberley Library on the Stanford University Campus. Free admission. All welcome. Double bills, films start at 6:00 and 8:00.
Information: 650-725-3426. E-mail dggiova@stanford.edu
Select this link for a map to Cubberley Auditorium.
Sponsored by Sohaib & Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies; The Middle East Collection, SUL-AIR; and the Arab Film Festival.

Egyptian Dance Retreat with Shareen El Safy-August 10-16, 2008, Orr Hot Springs, CA.
Master Egyptian dance instructor Shareen El Safy leads this week-long immersion in Egyptian music and dance at the beautiful Shambhala Ranch in Northern California.
www.shareenelsafy.com

Desert Dance Festival-September 27 & 28, 2008, San Jose, CA
Teachers include Amaya, Amy Sigil, Ava Fleming, Shareen el Safy, and Zaina Hart.
Call in date for a dance time is June 29.
For info, call 510-667-9333 or visit www.desertdance.com

Belly Dance Odyssey Presents the Seventh Annual Luna Gitana Festival -November 7-9, 2008, Santa Cruz, CA.
Workshops and show with Aziza! Details to be announced.
www.bellydanceodyssey.com

Arab Film Festival October 16-31 2008 San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA.
The Twelveth Annual Arab Film Festival will be screening in Los Angeles, too.
Check their website for the call for submissions and the upcoming schedule.
www.aff.org.

Carnival of Stars: Fifth Annual Ghawazee.com holiday dance and comic book festival- November November 8th & 9th 2008, 9 am - 9pm, Hayward, CA. "How would you like to do your holiday shopping in a pleasant atmosphere with plenty of free parking while enjoying continuous entertainment? The show will include stars of the belly dance world and a variety of other entertainers and vendors. Don’t miss this chance to spend an enjoyable day being entertained and getting an early start on your holiday shopping!" Workshops featuring Malia from Hawaii, Astryd, Nashwa, Lotus, and Jacques El Asmar. For more information, visit Ghawazee.com and Carnivalofstars.com. Or phone 510-548-4260 or 415-332-4113. Admission will be $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12. CENTENNIAL HALL 22292 FOOTHILLBLVD., (AT CITY CENTER DRIVE) HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA

Fourth Annual Redwood Coast Bellydance Festival- October 4-5, 2008, Arcata, CA
Spend the weekend dancing with Shoshanna and friends. Workshops with Nadira, Heather, Shoshanna, & Ray.
12pm to 8pm Saturday - 12pm to 6pm Sunday
$8 general/day, $5 students/seniors, free for kids under 12. Weekend passes available, too. Arcata Community Center
321 Community Park Way
Arcata CA 95521
Contact Shoshanna at (707) 616-6876, dance@shoshannaland.com
or P.O. Box 1038, Arcata CA 95518
www.redwoodcoastbellydance.com/

Ninth Annual Rakkasah East Belly Dance Festival October 17-19, 2008, Somerset, New Jersey.
The East Coast version of this popular Bay Area festival celebrates its eighth anniversary. Choose from a multitude of excellent workshops and enjoy a three day performance marathon.
Dancer call-in August 10, 2008.
See their website for more info.

*Please check events info with their producers. Events are listed for Giza member's convenience and accuracy or timeliness of info is not guaranteed.