A WOrLD preMIere KeNNeDY CeNTer COMMISSION produced by the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and presented in association with the Qaboos Cultural Center Created, choreographed, and directed by Debbie Allen Music composed by Arturo Sandoval Lyrics by Debbie Allen part of ARABESQUE: Arts of the

CROSSING BORDERS he path from idea to page to stage was unique for …O Man! T Not only did Ms. Allen travel to the nation of Oman for her research, she brought back many young performers who joined other cast members from Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Working together, this international cast has truly lived the theme of this play—learning about the similarities and differences between their two cultures. Getting Ready to See OMAN…O Man!

THE STORY THE MAIN CHARACTERS t's Day One at the summer camp of O Joseph, an 12-year-old American the Royal Military Academy, an elite boy, son of a chemical engineer school where the next leaders of the O Aisha (pronounced eye-ee-sha), world are trained. When roommates are Joseph’s 15-year-old sister assigned, Joseph and Salim meet for the O Salim (SAH-lem), an 11-year-old Omani boy, son of a diplomat first time. Talk about different! Direct from O Salme (SAL-may), a 16-year-old Detroit, Joseph is decked out in jeans, Omani girl baseball cap, and sneakers. Salim is wearing traditional dress from Oman, the Arab country where he lives. And wait until elite–representing the best Joseph’s sister Aisha and an Omani girl biases–strong feelings for named Salme compare their lives. Different or against something without reason; prejudice countries, cultures, religions, histories, and biases… can (and will) they learn to appreciate and understand each other? TOLD WITH DANCE AND MUSIC AND MORE

In OMAN…O Man!, you learn about the story and DO CLOTHES TALK? the characters when the actors speak (called dialogue), During the performance, Salme and Aisha sing about and when they dance and sing, too. e music, sets, their differences in dress and what type of women lighting, and costumes also help tell the story. they want to be. What does the way American teens dress “say” about them? What does the way you During the Performance dress “say” about you? Watch for…

O how a group of dancers portray an ocean and mosque–a house of worship struggle against a raging storm for Muslims, followers of Islam O how dancers portray the sun and a bird choreography–the dance steps and movements O how the set and stage pieces, lighting, and costumes create each distinct place such as a military academy, an Omani desert, a mosque, a church, the Indian Ocean, Africa, and the city DRESSING UP—OMANI of Dubai, the rich financial center in the Like the clothing the character Salim wears in OMAN…Oh Man!, Omani men wear a simple, Listen for… ankle-length, collarless, long-sleeved shirt called O how the music helps to create each mood a dishdasha, (pronounced dish-DASH-ah). Men and place may wear many different kinds of headdress. O how history is introduced through dialogue, Often, a square of finely woven woolen or music, and singing cotton fabric is wrapped and folded into a , or mussar (mu-SAHr). Underneath the After the performance… turban is an intricately embroidered cap or kummar (KOOM-mah). On holidays and as ink how the imaginative choreography, music, part of ceremonial dress, men wear a curved and staging created the magic of theater. dagger or khanjar (KAHN-jahr) at the waist.

Like Salme, Omani women wear colorful clothing which varies from region to region. Traditionally, women wear a long dress over pants or sirwal (SIr-wahl) and a headdress or lihaf (LUH-hahf). eir clothes are decorated with embroidery and beads, coins, or sequins. Young Omanis auditioning Women wear gold and silver jewelry on their with Ms. Allen. head, neck, wrists, ankles, fingers, and even toes. O Man…Tell Me about Oman

OPENING THE DOOR TO OMAN

For centuries, Oman prospered from trade along the Oman— major sea routes on the Indian Ocean that connected An Arab Nation the , Africa, and east Asia with europe Oman is a member and the Americas. Traditionally, past rulers resisted of the League of Arab any outside influence States, formed in and discouraged 1945 to create a change for the country. cultural, political, and economic sense of unity Over time, Oman among its 22 members: Algeria, , Comoros, ended its isolation. In Djibouti, , Iraq, , , , Libya, 1970, Sultan Qaboos Mauritania, , Oman, palestine, , Saudi bin Said (KA-booz bin Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, , , United Arab SY-eeD) began his reign emirates, and Yemen. in Oman. e Sultan research the League of Arab Nations. Choose one has worked hard to country and compare it to the United States. How modernize his country are we similar? How are we different? by building new schools, An interesting note: Sultan was roads, communications educated at the Royal Military systems, and hospitals. Academy at Sandhurst, a prestigious school in Britain. e Arab country of Oman Sound familiar? (official name Sultanate of Oman), forms a wide curve along the southeastern border of the Arabian Peninsula.

Ms. Allen rehearses in Oman.

is designer's rendering of an opening scene shows the flags of many nations. Watch for how the flags appear. The Creators of OMAN…Oh Man!

DEBBIE ALLEN ARTURO SANDOVAL “Multi-talented” is a word often used to When asked about his musical career, Cuban- describe Debbie Allen. As an award-winning born American Arturo Sandoval said, “Can you dancer, author, director, imagine making your living doing what you actor, choreographer, love? I came from a very poor family from the composer, and singer, Ms. middle of nowhere and could never imagine Allen is recognized for her I would be able to do the things I have done.” many stage, television, and At the age of 12, Arturo Sandoval began movie roles. Her strong studying classical trumpet, but it wasn’t long desire to work with young after that that he “caught the jazz bug.” Today, performers inspired her to this Grammy Award®–winning musician is open her own dance known for diverse musical compositions academy in Los Angeles. e Debbie Allen including Latin, jazz, and classical music. Dance Academy instructs boys and girls, ages four to 18, in a variety of dance styles. Despite her many projects, she continues to offer hands-on instruction to the hundreds of students who attend her school and thousands around the world.

Debbie Allen Dance Academy: To Dance Is to Dream Affectionately referred to as DADA, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy trains young, serious dance students in 12 different dance styles, including ballet, modern, salsa, hip hop, African, and jazz. Ms. Allen believes that through the arts, a new generation of dancers will find the self esteem, leadership skills, confidence, and creativity to change the world.

Dancers rehearse aerial and floor movement sequences for the production. Resources Young Artists You may want to go online… ARABESQUE: Arts of the Arab World —www.kennedy-center.org/arabesque Can Study at the ARTSEDGE—www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/arabfestival Kennedy Center Debbie Allen Dance Academy—www.debbieallendanceacademy.com Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center—www.sqcc.org Indian Ocean and World History—www.indianoceanhistory.org Did you know… Talented young people who are seeking performance careers Stephen A. Schwarzman can find training at the Chairman Kennedy Center with Michael M. Kaiser Debbie Allen and many other President Alicia B. Adams professionals: Vice President, International Programming Darrell M. Ayers O Young musicians and Vice President, Education aspiring conductors study and perform with the ARABESQUE: Arts of the Arab World National Symphony PRESENTINGUNDERWRITER HRH Foundation Orchestra. MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS O Ballet students from across A. Huda and Samia Farouki The State of Kuwait the nation and the world The State of Qatar study ballet with masters The United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington, D.C. such as Suzanne Farrell Additional support is provided by the Ministry of Culture and Information, Kingdom of Bahrain; the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center; The Qatar Foundation for Education, and Arthur Mitchell. Science, and Community Development; the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art; Others attend classes led by Alice and David Rubenstein; Saudi Aramco; the Ford Foundation; Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian; Elaine and Steve Wynn; Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and world-class ballet companies. Mr. Smith Bagley; The Laura Pels Foundation; and the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts. O Young jazz musicians play Presented in cooperation with the League of Arab States with and learn from masters in the art form, such as Sultan Qaboos Dr. Billy Taylor, Curtis Fuller, Cultural Center

and Carmen Lundy. The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) is named after the monarch of the Sultanate of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. SQCC is dedicated to O College theater students educating the peoples of America and Oman about the breadth and richness of their improve their skills and two cultures. The Center promotes mutual respect and understanding between the United States and Oman in order to educate a new generation of culturally sensitive receive national recognition and knowledgeable citizens in each society. Through outreach programs, lectures, an for their work at the information-rich Web site, educational resources, and cultural partnerships, SQCC brings the culture, history, and heritage of the two nations to audiences in the US and abroad. Kennedy Center American

College eater Festival. Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, a program of the Kennedy Center Education Department. Cuesheet— OMAN…O Man! Editorial and Art Direction: Lynne B. Silverstein For more information, Writer: Lisa Resnick go online to Design: Carla Badaracco kennedy-center.org/education. Questions, comments? Write us at [email protected] The U.S. Department of Education supports approximately one-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center Education Department. The contents of this document do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2009 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts