One of India's most visually captivating dances, Kathakali, will be perfomed in four Egyptian cities in August.

The nine-member troupe will give its first performance in Alexandria on 1 August as part of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Summer Festival. This year's festival, in its 14th year, is set to honor Indian art and culture.

From Alexandria, the Indian performers will then move to Port Said and Ismailia on 3 and 4 August respectively before concluding their Egyptian tour in Cairo on Saturday 6 August.

According to the official press release provided by the Cairo's Maulana Arts Centre for Indian Arts (MACIC), Kathakali is a complex art that combines dance, drama, literature, vocal and instrumental music and visual forms of art such as painting and sculpture. 

Recognised by the vibrant in makeup and colorful costumes worn by the performers, Kathakali is one of the most visually dazzling stage performances coming from India.

Though Egyptian audiences are well aquinted with Indian arts, whose gems are presented through many different events, including the annual India by the Nile festival, Kathakali has not graced Egypt's stages for many years. As such, the upcoming shows are a rare opportunity to witness this unique traditional dance.

Programme:

Monday 1 August, 9pm
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria

Wednesday 3 August, 8pm
Port Said Cultural Palace

Thursday 4 August, 8pm
Ismailia Cultural Palace

Saturday 6 August, 7pm
Cultural Palace, El Golf Area, Heliopolis, Cairo

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