Join us for an evening of Arabic, Turkish, and Balkan music and dance! We will feature Camellia Boutros on Trumpet, Ala K on oud, Faisal Zedan on Derbekki.
Camellia Boutros is a multi-instrumentalist and composer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her journey with the oud and the Maqamat while abroad in Palestine, and developed her own custom fretless 12-string oud-guitar to compose with for her experimental Arabic psychedelic rock band. In addition to performing with her solo project, she can be seen on trumpet with Inspector Gadje, Mission Delirium, and various Bay Area Eastern music projects.
Ala K., from Tunisia, is a seasoned vocalist and oud player known for his deep roots in traditional Arabic music. Throughout his career, Ala has achieved several noteworthy accomplishments. He was part of the winning University of Sfax band at the national university competition in 1998, performed at the Opera House in Egypt during the 1999 Arab Music Festival, and appeared at the World Music Festival in Belfort, France, in 2000. Since 2007, he has been active with the Aswat ensemble in the Bay Area, collaborating with various artists from the Arab music scene.
Currently, Ala is exploring a new project that fuses Flamenco with North African Rai music, working with a group of acoustic guitarists and oud players. Ala's goal is to share the beauty of Arabic music with a global audience and to keep pushing the boundaries of musical fusion
Born in Lebanon and raised in Syria, Faisal is an accomplished Arabic percussionist dedicated to preserving and teaching the rich traditions of Arabic music and drumming. With over two decades of experience, he has been actively involved in teaching and performing Arabic and Middle Eastern music since 1996.
Faisal's repertoire spans various Arabic music genres, including classical, regional Arabic, and belly dance music. Additionally, he is skilled in performing Greek, Balkan, and Eastern European music genres, showcasing his versatility as a percussionist.
In his role as an educator, Faisal offers private lessons, workshops, seminars, and teaches at music camps both in the United States and abroad. His commitment to sharing his knowledge and passion for Arabic music has inspired countless students to delve deeper into this vibrant musical tradition. Whether performing on stage or teaching aspiring musicians, Faisal continues to be a dedicated ambassador for Arabic music, leaving a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.
We will feature some amazing dancing from:
Sultana is an Egyptian dance artist renowned for her authentic egyptian bellydance style. Sultana previously lived and worked in Cairo where she studied with top Egyptian dance practitioners and preformed in some of Cairo's most in demand clubs. Sultana brings a sentimental and nostalgic element to her performances that transports the audience to a past reality.
Nicole Maria is a multi-award-winning dancer based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been studying and performing contemporary and traditional forms of Arabic dance for over a decade. In 2019, she was a featured soloist in the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
Alia is an Egyptian American dancer living on Tongva Land. She is a long standing member of the Qabila Dance Company Los Angeles Chapter and director of the Bay Area chapter. Alia loves exploring the deep and rich varieties of SWANA cultures and sharing knowledge through dance, music and education.
Shanti Bardot is a Bay Area dancer with a dedicated passion for Arabic & Romany art. Their dance style focuses on Raqs Sharqi (Bellydance) from the Golden Era of Egyptian cinema.