The festival’s programme has already been released presenting a large selection of concerts, theatre plays, dance performances, film screenings, seminars, workshops, and photography exhibitions.

Focusing on women creators and women’s issues, the events will fill Cairo stages of AUC Tahrir Campus (Falaki Theatre, Ewart Memorial Hall, open-air main garden, and university rooms) and the French Institute. In Alexandria, She Arts will take place at the Jesuit Cultural Centre.

We talk to Neveen Kenawy, the She Arts founder and artistic director, about this year's highlights.
 

Focus on workshops
 

“There is a significant increase of workshops and masterclasses in comparison to previous years,” Kenawy told Ahram Online. 

“The workshops will be led by important names in the artistic field,” she continues, pointing to several events, specifically the contemporary dance workshop by director and choreographer Reem Hegab and the singing masterclass by the internationally renowned Egyptian mezzo-soprano Farrah El-Dibany.

The festival’s lineup includes Egyptian and Spanish folklore workshops, led by its well-established representatives.

Kenawy also pointed to Italian artist Gold Mass, who besides giving a concert on the festival's second day will also hold a 3-day workshop on electronic music production.

 

From Um Kalthoum to jazz, folklore, and much more!
 

Music is always a sought-after component of She Arts festival. This year, the music segment will launch with a very special event.

"The opening concert will honour the 100th anniversary of Um Kalthoum's presence in the Arab music field,” Kenawy said.

The centenary celebration refers to what is believed to mark an important event in the star of the Orient's career: in 1924, she was introduced to the poet Ahmed Rami who was yet to write more than 130 songs for her, as she finally embarked on large public performances.

Um Kalthoum will be celebrated with the singer Marwa Nagy, accompanied by the She Arts Orchestra, an all-women ensemble, conducted by Donia Akram, and then Magda Reda. 

Kenawy places a strong emphasis on music in every year’s edition, drawing from her musical background in her studies and career.

This year, she invites the audiences to attend other music events as well, enumerating talents such as the Spanish trios: La Prenda Roja fusing flamenco and electronic beats and Faneka presenting a “magical folk,” as media described the band.

The festival will feature a multitude of music genres: German jazz vocalist Céline Rudolph; Bára Zmeková from Czech Republic who blends folk, jazz, and traditional music; JaMese (Hungary) presenting storytelling with elements of folk and jazz; Julia Pratt (USA), guitarist, pianist, and vocalist with jazz background; and Amani Riahi (Tunisia) who merges her home country music with contemporary styles.

Egypt is represented by several performers: Ritmo, presenting covers with a unique blend of oriental and English songs; Nouran Abutaleb known for her Oriental ethno-jazz and Arab pop compositions; Youssra El-Hawary’s alternative folk, indie rock, and jazz; and Yousra El-Gendy’s electronic beats. 

Dance and theatre
 

Kenawy continued by saying that “the festival will feature artists from the US, Hungary, Czech, Tunisia, and Syria, marking the first-ever performance at She Arts. The returning countries are Sudan, Germany, Spain, and Italy.”

She gives an example of The Sound of Sahlaa, a traditional bridal dance/theatre performance by the Sudanese troupe Dawaya, and directed by Lina Kamal Fadlallah, and with choreography by Hadeel Al-Hadi Abdullah.

In its turn, the Nawah Giza for Community Arts, consisting of Egyptian and Syrian artists will stage What Is Today?, a theatre play directed by Ahmed Basset.

An interesting addition to this year's festival is Irtigalia Honn, an improvisation performance created by Ramzy Lehner. It is an extension to Irtigalia project founded by Lehner in 2014. The live improvised and interactive comedy theatre performance relies on a strong interaction with the audience, with the viewers joining the actors on stage. In Irtigalia Honn, all participants are women.

She Arts inclusivity
 

Following its practice from previous editions, the 4th edition sheds light on Cairo-based refugees. They will present dance and theatre shows, alongside the handicraft bazaar ongoing throughout the festival days. 

“This segment comes as a collaboration with UNHCR to promote refugees’ artistic works, regardless of their race or ethnicity,” Kenawy told Ahram Online.

Among the best-known components of the festival is its music competition. This segment encourages and celebrates emerging artists, showcasing their unique creative skills.

As Kenawy underlined, She Arts Festival is a platform for women and for the audience to get acquainted with their unique creativity.

Kenawy believes that, throughout her career in art management, she came across "numerous female artists who are not given the opportunity to present their work, some face life obstacles that hinder their path to becoming artists. She Arts hopes to attract and support all women."

In its fourth edition this year, She Arts has already established itself in Egypt's artistic scene, attracting regional and international artists. 

“Finding female artists to participate in each edition of She Arts can be a challenge, as women artists are much fewer than their male counterparts," Kenawy explained.

"However, I am happy to see that, since last year, we started receiving requests from international artists who are eager to participate in She Arts," she said.