São Paulo – Arab culture is the theme of program “De véus e velas” (Of veils and candles), organized by the Itaquera district unit of the Social Service of Commerce (Sesc), in São Paulo. The presentations will take place in February and March, including music, dance and conversation sessions with artists and researchers.
According to Sesc Itaquera’s cultural animateur Ivy Beritelli, the program “De véus e velas” was developed to approach Arab reality from a cultural standpoint. She claims the rising numbers of Syrian refugees bound for Brazil was one of the reasons that led Sesc Itaquera to create the project.
“This program is part of the ‘actions for citizenship’ project, which showcases the traditions that make up Brazilian culture. We thought we might as well work with Arab themes as a way of aggrandizing this rich, diverse culture,” Beritelli said.
Last Friday (22), a Syrian refugee attended a meeting with Sesc goers and also performed Palestinian and Syrian folk songs, as well as songs common to almost all Arab countries.
The next event, slated for February, will be “Arab dance and the feminine,” featuring dancers from the belly-dancing company Cia Dança do Ventre Repente. They will perform folk dances alongside a guest and discuss with the audience the influence of Arab music and dancing in Brazilian music.
The program’s March dates are pending announcement on Sesc’s website, but Beritelli reveals that they will cover the participation of women in Arab society and literature. Actress Valéria Arbex, who plays the character Elizete in the theatrical play “Salamaleque,” is one of the March guests.
The program will also deal with the female presence in contemporary and classical literature, through modern-day tales and the “Book of One Thousand and One Nights. “
De véus e velas
Website: http://www.sescsp.org.br/programacao/80253_DE+VEUS+E+VELAS+CULTURA+ARABE#
Dança Árabe e o Feminino
Sunday, Feb 21, 2:30pm to 4pm at Café Aricanduva
Sesc Itaquera, Avenida Fernando Espírito Santo Alves de Mattos, 1,000, Itaquera, São Paulo-SP
Additional information: http://www.sescsp.org.br/programacao/83245_DANCA+ARABE+E+O+FEMININO (in Portuguese)
Free admission
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
