São Paulo – Music and dance teachers of several countries should visit Salvador, Bahia, between January 29th and February 1st, for an International Ethnical Music and Dance Festival. They should teach courses and workshops regarding the Balkans, India and the Middle East. Among the teachers is the Egyptian Mohamed El Sayed, who teaches Nubian Dance.
"Apart from teaching dance to the audiences, the objective of the meeting is to bring a little of the culture of other countires to Brazil," said the organizer of the event, Gláucia Rodrigues. She, who is a psychotherapist and has been working with oriental circular dance as a therapy for over 15 years, believes that dancing the styles of different ethnic groups is a way of knowing and reliving the feeling of the people, spreading culture through peace and solidarity. "It is a way of working respect for what is different," he added.
According to Gláucia, the circular dances come from different parts of the world, from different periods, and is being used in the health and education area and in human resources due to the several benefits that they provide to those participating.
At the meeting, the participants of the courses will be able to experience several dances and folk music, like Gypsy Music from Romania, with band Mahala Raí; Dance from the Balkans, with Michael Ginsburg; and Bulgarian Dance, with Mariana Paunova; among other dances and ethnic music from India and Egypt. Venezuelan teacher Douglas Felis, who was raised in Egypt and currently teaches Egyptian percussion in Brazil, should also participate.
According to Gláucia, it was Felis who recommended the Egyptian Sayed to teach the Nubian Dance course. "He is going to teach other aspects of Oriental Dance, escaping Belly Dancing a little," said the therapist, who plans to transmit to those participating the community spirit that circular dancing offers.
The meeting should take place at Bahia Plaza Resort Hotel and is open to the public. It is not necessary to be staying at the hotel to participate. Up to January 10th, the price of the package is 420 Brazilian reals (US$ 192); from the 11th on, the price rises to 460 reals (US$ 210). The prices do not include hotel fees. The income of the event will be turned to the Food Safety Program of Tekoá Itanhaen Indian Village, a Guarani Indian group in Tijucas, Santa Catarina.
Promotion
The International Ethnical Music and Dance Festival is organized by the Universal Study Centre – AUM, a private non-profit association with social and cultural characteristics, which brings together people available to contribute with the transformation of the planet and its health, through exercising transdicipline.
Further information and enrolment
Universal Study Centre
Tel. (+55 11) 3021 4419
Site: www.ceuaum.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
