The Center For Arabic Culture Presents Spring Fling Arabic Cultural Showcase for All Open House

Food and Fun ◆ Dance and Music

May 10, 2014 11 am - 5:30 pm Center for the Arts at the Armory Somerville, MA

Co-Sponsored by

NETWORK OF ARAB-AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS - BOSTON Website: www.naaponline.org/boston Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAAPBoston Twitter: @NAAP_Boston

OH-booklet-final copy.indd 1 4/29/14 11:25 AM RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGES PURCHASES REFINANCES JUMBOS Program Outline 203K’S USDA VA CONDOS 11:30 am - 12:15 pm Mirza Dance Ensemble FHA MULTIFAMILY

12.20 -12.50 pm BPFF Film Screening #1: “Ismail” Opening Windows of Opportunity 1:00 - 1:25 pm CAC Children’s Choir: “Sound of Spring”

for Homeowners 1:30 - 2:00 pm BPFF Film Screening #2: “Ismail” since 1988. 2:15 - 3:00 pm Moroccan and Egyptian Music Duo: Karim Nagi and Boujemaa Razgui

NMLS #22330 Naela Sharuk 3:15 - 3:50 pm Tarab Chorus Senior Loan Officer Office (508) 850-4215 Cell (781) 640-6324 4:30 - 5:30 pm Bassam Saba and the [email protected] Arabic Music Ensemble www.mortgagemaster.com/nsharuk MA LIC#MLO22330/NJ LIC#22330/CT LIC#LO-22330/ Healing Syrian Refugee Children NY LIC#22330/RI LIC#22330/CA LIC#CA-DOC22330/ through Art NH LIC#NH22330/VA LIC#MLO-18804VA/IN LIC#23634

Calligraphy Corner by Hajj Wafaa

Special Artist Exhibit 102 Elm Street, Walpole, MA 02081 Mortgage Master, Inc., NMLS # 4251/MA Lender/Broker MC4251/Licensed by the NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance/Licensed Mortgage Banker - NYS Banking Dept./RI Licensed Lender/Loan Broker/Licensed by the NH Banking Dept.

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Mirza Dance Ensemble A Provider of Information and Energy Solutions

A software company with a mission to develop tools for The Ensemble was created in 1985 participants in deregulated power markets, CES provides tools by Christine Mirson-Tohme who is to assist market participants in analyzing and visualizing artistically also known in the dance electricity markets on a locational basis, forecast and value world as Shadia. Mirza is in its fourth transmission congestion, and understand the fundamental generation of dancers, some of whom drivers of short and long term prices. CES products are backed are children of the original dance by a robust database of input assumptions and powerful members. scripting tools for customization and sensitivity analysis Mirza is a professional folkloric troupe dedicated to representing the cultural heritage of the Middle East, Near East and Arabic speaking  DAYZER (Day-Ahead Locational Market Analyzer) regions. They perform traditional and contemporary dances for cultural events Assists power market participants and weddings. Befriend them on Facebook and view their website: www. in analyzing locational market mirzadanceensemble.com prices and transmission congestion costs in competitive electricity During the Open House, the Mirza performance will be a potpourri of dances markets by simulating the dispatch from the Arab World. Please join Mirza in a lively dabka at the last dance of procedures of ISOs, solving for their performance! security-constrained, least-cost unit commitment and dispatch. Mirza Dance Ensemble will present three dances from the Arab World:

 TRANZER (Transmission System Analyzer) 1. Moroccan women’s solo by Mirza Guest Dancer Somaya Maghouz A full-featured viewer and editor who choreographed this very colorful dance that is sung Tahour Orchestra in the Morrocan Shaabi style. The movements represent the for transmission data that Berber, Atlas Mountain and shaabi styles. combines system topology with operating constraints, load 2. Debke Jebalieh - Farhat Shabeb - traditional men’s debke danced to centers, and generator locations, double read flute, Mijwiz. Choreogrphy by Ibrahim Maalouf. Performed by TRANZER solves for power flows Basheer & Haikal Letiaef and Anthony Choueiri. and allows for easy modification of 3. Bedouin style debke that features three colorful men’s solos to a the transmission assumptions fed Bedouin inspired music. The audience is encouraged to join the line to DAYZER simulations when the men complete there solo’s. The Tabl beledi will also be played Learn More at www.CES-US.com giving much excitement to this debke. Mouna & Maya Mirson Tohme, along with Somaya Maghouz join the Mirza Men.

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 4-5 4/29/14 11:25 AM Mona Chahine Film Screening: “Ismail” Realtor Selling across Massachusetts When it comes to Real Estate, there is no substitute for experience, professionalism and commitment. 781-856-4888 [email protected]

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“Ismail”

Film screening by Boston Palestine Film Festival. Ramzi & Dalia Nuwayhid 1st Screening: 2nd Screening 12:20 - 12:50 pm 1:30 - 2:00 pm are proud The CAC is proud to announce that the Boston Palestine Film Festival (BPFF) will sponsor the showing of the film “Ismail” by Nora Alsharif. Inspired by the late Palestinian painter Ismail Shammout (1930-2006), this story is about a to support CAC young Palestinian who sells cakes in an effort to support his parents after their expulsion to a Refugee camp in 1948 by the Israeli forces.

Despite the distressing conditions he holds to his dream to go to Rome to learn painting. One day and after leaving the train station with his kid brother, they heedlessly enter a minefield. As Ismail faces death, and in his struggle to save himself and his brother, we discover his true spirit.

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 6-7 4/29/14 11:25 AM Calligraphy by Hajj Wafaa CAC Children’s Choir

Hajj Wafaa was born in Iraq. In 1997, He Singing “Sound of Spring” came as a refugee to the USA from the border of Saudi Arabia. He Graduated from Gibbs Choir Repertoire Boston College in graphic and web design in 2008. Hajj Wafaa learned Arabic Calligraphy Fly High, Dove! by Rimi Bandali in 1986. In 1995 he started his first class Lamma Bada Yatathanna Mouwashah teaching Arabic calligraphy in a refugee camp. Al Sama Dance by Somaya Maghouz/Mirza Ensemble My Mom Marwan Nakhleh; Vocals: Luciana Najjar After he moved to US, he started teaching his Do Re Me Theme from”Sound of Music” first Arabic calligraphy class at the Center for Arabic Culture in Somerville, MA. Currently he teaches Arabic calligraphy for the public as The CAC Children Choir was established on March 2, 2014. The Choir’s main well as in private lessons. He worked as an art mission is to promote the Arabic culture through folkloric, contemporary and teacher in Gardner Pilot Academy elementary modern Arabic music and songs. school and is teaching Islamic arts at Al-Noor Academy High school. In 1995, CAC Choir Goals: Hajj Wafaa participated in a calligraphy competition in Turkey ARCKA . His art work have been displayed in many galleries around the world such as Saudi • Introduce Arab-American youths to the Arabic and Middle Eastern Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Turkey, Indonesia, as well as many places in the US. He music, musicians and singers. teaches calligraphy workshops at UMass, Smith College, Tufts, Museum of • Introduce the Arabic and Middle Eastern music to the American fine art and many places within the Muslim and Arab Communities. Society at large. • Encourage children and teenagers from all backgrounds to join irrespective of speaking Arabic. • Hold concerts around Massachusetts and beyond to spread the word about the rich Arabic musical heritage. • For those who are interested in practicing their Arabic language skills the choir is a fun and contemporary method to build stronger knowledge of Arabic.

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 8-9 4/29/14 11:25 AM Moroccan & Egyptian Music Duo: Healing Syrian Refugee Children Karim Nagi & Boujemaa Razgui through Art

In the summer of 2013, Sara Mraish Demeter from ARCK and a CAC board member, set out to help about 30 Syrian refugee children for a week-long The Ensemble is lead by Karim Nagi, a native of Cairo Egypt, master workshop titled, “Storytelling Through Art.” percussionist, and proponent of traditional Arab folkloric dance. Nagi tours all over the world 45 weeks per year performing and teaching, and has authored The children learned how to author a book, illustrate and write it. They 12 CDs and 5 DVDs. Boujemaa Razgui from Marrakech Morocco. Razgui is learned hope when they built a city out of cardboard. They learned to seek a multi-instrumentalist who has had careers in Morocco, France, Canada, and perserverance and wisdom when they took the books that they designed with now the USA with the Sharq Ensemble. www.karimnagi.com/sharq. them, and it became their only belonging to heal from after they left from war.

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 10-11 4/29/14 11:26 AM Tarab Chorus

The Tarab Chorus was founded in 1997 to revive and preserve Classical Arabic music. Tarab seeks to provide a cross-cultural bridge between East and Tarab Chorus repertoire West through the art of music and singing.

وصلة :بيات Waslat Bayat The group’s primary goals are to preserve the authentic classical art forms

of Arabic music and to serve the Arab and American communities of اماللي االقداح صرفا .Massachusetts and beyond فيك كل ما ارى حسن جل من قد صورك Members of Tarab come from all walks of life. They volunteer their time and يا صاح الصبر their enthusiasm and dedication over the years has refined and nuanced their بالذي اسكر

singing of Classical forms such as: Al-Mouwashah, Al-Dawr, and Al-Taqtouqa. وصلة رست: Waslat Rast The time periods covered by the group span from the 10th century through the .early 20th century احن شوقا يا شادي االلحان صحت وجدا مال الكاسات يا من لعبت غنيلي شوي شوي

شد الحزام Shid al Hizam لما بدا يتثنى Lamma Bada ya tathanna

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 12-13 4/29/14 11:26 AM Arabic Music Ensemble Arabic Music Ensemble Under direction of CAC’s Artist in Residence Under direction of CAC’s Artist in Residence Bassam Saba Bassam Saba

The Arabic Music Ensemble at the Center of Arabic Culture (CAC) is in its third year, under the leadership of the CAC artist in residence, Mr. Bassam Saba, an internationally acclaimed musician, music educator, and musical director of the New York Arabic Orchestra. The group consists of a changing membership of mostly students of Arabic music, some with professional musical training, and others, self taught amateurs who come from 1. Raqsit Badi’ah Anonymous different parts of New England. The group 2. Ana Hina Sayyed Makkawi meets twice monthly at the CAC locale to perform a musical repertoire ranging 3. Folk Medley Ziad Rahbani from the traditional Sama’i and muwashahat compositions, to contemporary • Qasqiss Warak songs written for well-known singers such as and Sabah. The • Raqsit Tahiyyat Ensemble is open to, and welcomes new members. • Shirak Bassam Saba of is a world-renowned virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist 4. Nay and Qanun Improvisation Bassam Saba and Jamal Simo and leading figure of Arabic music, performing on the nay (Arabic end-blown 5. Sittil Habayeb Mohammad Abdel Wahab reed flute), oud (Middle-Eastern lute), saz (Turkish long-necked lute), western 6. Raqsit Al Jamal Farid Al-Atrash flute, and violin. Saba studied at the Lebanon National Conservatory, the Conservatoire Municipal des Gobelins in , and the Gnessin Musical 7. Sa’louni Al Nas Ziad Rahbani Pedagogical Institute in Moscow. Saba toured extensively with Arab icons 8. Nassam ‘alainal Hawa Rahbani Brothers Fairouz and Marcel Khalife and worked with Ziad Rahbani, Wadi‘ El-Safi ,and Toufic Farroukh, classical and pop stars , Yo-Yo Ma, and Santana, and jazz icons and ,

Bassam Saba- Oud, Nay, Violin, Flute Alma Richeh- Vocal among others. One of the most sought-after teachers of Arabic music, Saba co-founded and directs the 35-piece New York Arabic Orchestra and leads Samia Mora Abi-Rached- Oud Ghaleb Daouk- Nai, Flute lectures and workshops around the world. Saba currently performs with Craig McCrae- Oud Valerie Ritter- Violin Daniel Schnyder’s Nay Concerto, Simon Shaheen and Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Mohammad Saab- Oud Jamal Sinno- Qanun Ensemble. As a soloist, Saba has performed with philharmonics worldwide Jeff Davis- Oud, Nay, Clarinet Tarek Rantissi- Hand Percussion and has toured throughout the world. In 2010, Saba released his album of all- Mohamed Salah- Oud, Vocals original music, Wonderful Land.

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 14-15 4/29/14 11:26 AM Special Art Exhibit Special Art Exhibit by Arab American Artists in Massachusetts by Arab American Artists in Massachusetts

Randa Khuri Thaer Abdallah

I was born in Haifa, Palestine, and grew up in , Lebanon. I attended I am an artist and human rights activist and also a Palestinian born in the National Evangelical School in Beirut, and was selected by the American Baghdad, Iraq. Palestinians are an ethnic minority in Iraq. We have lived Field Service Student Exchange Program to attend the senior year of high there for more than sixty years, but have neither citizenship nor freedom. school at Eastern High School in Baltimore, Maryland, where I lived the whole Since 2003, we have been targeted by various militias and have suffered year with an American family. kidnapping, torture, imprisonment and assassination.

Back in Lebanon, I attended Beirut College for Women for two years, and I have loved to paint and draw since I was a child, when I discovered that transferred to the American University of Beirut to obtain my B.S. in Nursing. I art was a world so much larger than the one room which I shared with my was on the faculty of the Nursing School teaching for two years, until I moved parents and twelve siblings. I drew on everything – the walls, the door – to my to the United States with my husband. In Boston, I sat for the Nursing State mother’s chagrin! Today, I use art to express the pain and also the strength of Board Exam, and obtained my nursing license. However, I did not practice my community in Baghdad and of those scattered as refugees in many corners nursing because I wanted to be at home with my three children. of the world. I also paint scenes of nature and people interacting with nature, especially those people who live on the margins of society. Since arriving in Later, I attended New England School of Art and Design and graduated with Boston I have studied painting at the Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts and an Associate degree in Interior Design. I moved into the Fine Arts in Painting the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. My work has been shown locally at and Sculpture, and am currently a member of multiple art societies and the Out of the Blue Gallery, the Harvard University Lutheran Church gallery, exhibit my work in various galleries in the Boston area. I have been a member Northeastern University, UMass Boston, the Paulist Center, the Middle East of a choral society for as long as I remember. As a flutist, I play with various Restaurant, 1369 Coffeeshop, Perks Coffeeshop, and the Andala Restaurant. flute choirs and recently began volunteering my time with a pianist to play music in nursing homes. Sara Demeter

Wael Kamal, Amongst the many roles that Sara plays, mother is one of the most prominent, with three young children at home. She is also an informal educator, arts Dr. Wael Kamal is the founding Director of Journalism and Media Studies activist and committed and loving community member. Sara received her Program of UMass Lowell and is jointly a Lecturer in the Art DepartmentAs a BA degree in Psychology, with a minor in French from Framingham State photographer, Wael Kamal sees the world through visions of light and shapes University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Sara is multi-lingual, fluent of forms. His cinematography background has an unavoidable influence in Arabic, French, and Spanish, and learning Greek. At Josiah Quincy on his photography. Wael Kamal is the founding Director of UMass Lowell Elementary School (JQES), Sara is the Co-Chair of the Art committee. She Media Program and is a faculty member in UMass Lowell Art Department. He was able to recruit artists volunteers, wrote press releases and coordinated all received his Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Georgia State University the public relations efforts, organizing the inaugural art festival, “Diversity Thru in 2006. Kamal has been the recipient of many photography awards and Art”, invited elected officials and superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, certificates of appreciation from both the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and and most importantly fundraised to support next year’s visual art vision- a Fine Arts Sector. He exhibited his photography internationally in Japan 1999 new non-profit start up coming soon. A decade ago Sara began her work as and Malta 1995. He is listed in two Egyptian National Encyclopedias 1994 & an education activist, serving on a committee to acquire and to transform the 2002. former Brimmer and May school into a Boston Public school serving Beacon Hill and Back Bay areas. The objective of this committee and the project was to bring diversity into these neighborhoods.

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OH-booklet-final copy.indd 16-17 4/29/14 11:26 AM CAC Arabic Sunday School The CAC would like to thank our Sponsors for their tireless support

Silver Sponsor John Makhoul

Bronze Sponsor Gheed and Kamal Itani Ghaleb and Rima Daouk The Center for Arabic Culture’s (CAC) Arabic Sunday School in New England focuses on both academic empowerment and cultural Randa Khuri enrichment activities. Our goal is to equip every student with the tools to speak, read and write Arabic. The School’s goal is to empower students, through education, to develop knowledge and pride in the Arabic language Special Thanks to: and culture. The CAC Arabic School shares the organization’s vision of promoting Arabic culture with no affiliation to any religious or political Abe Tannous - Profile News organizations.

Mik Haidar and Nabih Hakim - Arabic Hour The CAC Arabic school provides all levels of kids and adult classes of modern standard Arabic. The school is committed to providing a safe and UMass Boston - The Honors Program nurturing environment where diversity is celebrated, where respect will be practiced to foster the academic and cultural development of all students regardless of gender, race or religion. Open House May 18th

For more information, please email or call: [email protected] or 617-893-1176

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