São Paulo – ‘Learning with Arabs’ is the name and the intention of a series of workshops to be hosted in São Paulo later this month. The unit of the Social Service of Commerce (SESC) on Avenida Paulista will hold encounters where refugees from Syria and Palestine will teach techniques from their culture. All classes are free.
The Dabke: Tradition and Resistance experience (pictured above) is offered by Rawa Al Sagheer from Palestine. “I talk about the history of the dance, how it was created 4,000 years ago. How it was shaped, then forbidden in Palestine in 1948 and how it became a form of resistance,” she told ANBA about the dance that is also found in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
Al Sagheer is a filmmaker and has lived in Brazil since 2015. She also performs storytelling on Arab refuge and immigration for children, besides giving classes about the Palestinian struggle since the occupation by the Ottoman Empire.
Her workshop at SESC will run twice on December 22, at 3 pm and 5 pm, as well as on December 19 at 3 pm and 5 pm. Each activity offers 20 vacancies and the students must pick up their tickets 30 minutes in advance at the Central de Relacionamento in SESC Avenida Paulista, 2nd floor.
And the Arab-Inspired Self Make-up will be taught by Yaman Saad. Born in Syria, Saad will teach how to create an Arab make-up and address cultural aspects. With a degree in Archeology, she used to work at the National Museum of Damascus. In Brazil for two years now, she has offered workshops at SESC Thermas de Prudente and SESC Vila Mariana. She also offers the activity ‘Trip to Damascus’ at Airbnb Experiences, where she goes gives a virtual tour through the ancient and historical part of Damascus and serves Arab dishes.
The make-up classes will run on December 10 and 17, at 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm. Places are limited and tickets must be picked up 30 minutes in advance at SESC’s 4th floor, Tecnologias e Artes, where classes will take place.
Finally, on December 18 and 19, at 7 and 10 pm, Mohamad Alsaheb will hold the Arab Calligraphy and Culture workshop. The class explains the meaning of this technique and its relation to the Arab arts and culture. Mohamad Alsaheb is a Syrian refugee and arrived in Brazil in 2014. In 2018, he founded the Arabic Language Center, where he teaches the language and cultural aspects. His workshop has 20 seats and tickets must be picked up 30 minutes in advance on the unit’s 4th floor, Tecnologias e Artes.
Quick Facts
Aprender com os Árabes
December 10 to 29
SESC Avenida Paulista – Avenida Paulista, 119, Bela Vista – São Paulo
Find out more at: https://www.sescsp.org.br
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
