A Celebration of Egypt in Dance

For Immediate Release: Dance/Theater
Contact: Sausan, Founder and Artistic Director, Sausan Ensemble Egyptian Dance Company
415-867-6754 or sausanacademy [at] gmail.com
510-642-9460; ihprograms [at] berkeley.edu


Sausan Ensemble Egyptian Dance Company as part of the Sausan Academy of Egyptian Dance
A CELEBRATION OF EGYPT IN DANCE
Egyptian Dances and Egyptian Inspired Operetta
Graduate Students of the Sausan Academy of Egyptian Dance
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 8pm

San Francisco, January 2012 — In keeping with her efforts to conserve Classic Egyptian Style belly dance (Raqs Sharqi) in its true classic form in dance and entertainment, Sausan has again created an evening of Egyptian dance performance. Graduate students of the Sausan Academy of Egyptian Dance (SAED) make up this evening’s two-act performance, embracing the nuances and expression of the Golden Age of Egypt dance and film industry. Sausan brings an entourage of talented dancers and takes the fundamental dance experience from the Egyptian film industry to the stage. With three accomplished soloists and eight up-and-coming new graduates as well as several other performers, Sausan continues to make an impression in the San Francisco Bay Area with her choreographic maturity and crisp, authentic skill. Channeling the imagination of Sausan, the performances reveal a rich world full of colorful and lively energy. In these acts, presenting a variety of music from the ages of Egypt, graduates of SAED perform the dances as they were similarly danced during the 1930s through the 1990s.

ACT I - A Tribute to Egypt in Dance begins with four dancers performing a group number to a popular musical piece. The audience is invited to follow the performers, as each group completes its piece and is followed by an accomplished soloist. It is an evening filled with lively entertainment and engaging performances. By the end of the seven performances, the audience is left with a real sense of celebration, Egyptian style.

ACT II - Al Afrah al Saeed (Weddings of the South) is presented as an Egyptian Inspired Operetta. This operetta takes place somewhere in an Egyptian village square with a local water well and a cafe run by a Proprietor or “Ma’alema” and her “Ahwagi” or Barrista. City and country village girls meet to laugh and gossip, and to get daily water. It is an ageless love story about a young betrothed couple and their ultimate marriage through traditional Egyptian dance. The audience is invited to celebrate with the married couple at the close of the show.

During a time when changes are prevalent in Egypt, A Celebration of Egypt in Dance is not only timely but relevant. The performance has been developed by Sausan with collaboration of her soloists and group performers. To fully partake in the performance atmosphere of A CELEBRATION OF EGYPT IN DANCE, patrons are encouraged to wear Egyptian style apparel.

Calendar Editors:
What: A CELEBRATION OF EGYPT IN DANCE
Created and directed by Sausan
Co-Sponsored by the International House Council
General Info: 510-642-9460; ihprograms [at] berkeley.edu
When: Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 8PM.
Where: International House : Chevron Auditorium, 2299 Piedmont Ave., Berkeley, CA 94720

Tickets: $10 | Free to I-House Residents (http://egyptianconcert2012.eventbrite.com/)
sausanacademy [at] gmail.com or 415-867-6754
Web: http://www.sausanacademy.com

About the Artistic Director:
Sausan began her belly dance studies in 1974. In 2000, she opened her dance academy and has been producing quality and accomplished dance performers since 2001. She has modeled herself as an authority on Egyptian Dance using the 1930s through the 1990s Egyptian film industry as her foundation. With her new work, she draws on her ability to present authenticity in the classic Egyptian sense. Sausan continues to keep alive, in the fertile soil of Bay Area dance-theatre, the importance of Classic Egyptian Style belly dance or "Raqs Sharqi" through her works.

Sausan is an internationally and nationally known dancer, master teacher, and choreographer. She has danced all over the world. She also is the owner and Executive Chef of Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant located in San Francisco, Calif.

About the Soloists:
Fayruz graduated from SAED in 2007. She is now an independent dance artist based in Dallas, Texas. Her choreography has been presented nationally at venues and festivals such as the deYoung Fine Arts Museum, the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, the International House as U.C. Berkeley, and as a featured dancer at Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant. She recently relocated to Dallas, Texas from San Francisco in 2011, where she is in the process of formulating a dance school there.

Melinda is a graduate of SAED since 2001. She performs all over the San Francisco Bay Area. She has travelled extensively and has presented her choreography internationally and well as nationally. Her performances include the deYoung Fine Arts Museum and the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology and the International House as U.C. Berkeley. She is currently a featured dancer at Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant.

Valentina is a graduate of SAED since 2007 and has celebrated four plus years of dance as a featured dancer at Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant. She has also performed her choreography at the deYoung Fine Arts Museum and the International House as U.C. Berkeley bringing with her a talent of dancing with two sticks or “Tahtib” heretofore performed in Egypt primarily by male dancers. She continues to expand her dance horizon to include performances at San Francisco’s Peña Pachamama restaurant and cultural center.

About the Sausan Ensemble Egyptian Dance Company (SEEDC):
SEEDC provides space and resources for students and graduates of SAED, serving as an incubator for the creation of classically relevant, Egyptian-based dance art and culture. SEEDC acts as a catalyst for Egyptian dance; creating a forum for expressing the culture of Egypt through performance and entertainment, catalyzing transformation in our communities and our society. Sausan works towards a world that celebrates keeping the classic style of Egyptian culture and dance from the Golden Age of Egypt. She strives to create an environment that is authentically, easily, and delightfully accessible to everyone.

Images:
To download additional high-res images, email Sausan at sausanacademy [at] gmail.com
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