São Paulo – From Friday (25) to Sunday (27), the Brazilian federal capital will host the 1st Brasília Capital Belly Fest – Belly Dance and Arab Dance Festival (BCBFest), featuring performances and workshops, as well as Arab culture-related items on sale. Confirmed attractions include the Egyptian dancer Mohamed Shahin, one of the biggest names nowadays. He will perform and teach classes in Arab rhythms.
“Mohamed Shahin is coming exclusively for the festival,” says Amura Zahra, one of the organizers. Shahin, who has over 25 years’ experience under his belt and produces two major world-class dance festivals – Raqs of Course, in Cairo, Egypt, and NYCairo, in New York City, USA – will dance on Friday evening, in the International Gala Show that will open the event.
Other dancers will include Esmeralda Colabone, Paula Braz and Teo Versiani, all of whom are São Paulo-based and active internationally. The three of them and Shahin will also teach dance workshops on Saturday (26) and Sunday (27), in the afternoon.
According to Zahra, workshops are about two hours each, with prices ranging from BRL 55 to BRL 380. The rhythms covered will be belly dance, tribal fusion dance and Arab folk dance.
For the first time in its new format – several Brasília dance schools have come together to organize it –, BCBFest is expecting some 100 people to attend the workshops. But many more will likely attend the fair held during the festival, offering belly dance items, ornamentation, costume jewelry, clothing etc.
Admission is free. Tickets for the opening gala show on Friday will go for BRL 30.
Quick facts
Brasília Capital Belly Fest
Kubitschek Plaza Hotel Brasilia
SHN Quadra 2 Bloco E, 70722 Brasília (DF)
Friday (25), 9 pm
Saturday (26), 9 am to 8:30 pm
Sunday (27), 9 am to 8 pm
Phone: +55 (61) 3242-2807
https://www.facebook.com/events/165222160585670/
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
