The 15th annual Cairo International Jazz Festival
(26 October- 3 November)
Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC)
AUC’s Tahrir Campus, Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077
Ewart Memorial Hall
Thurs 2, 8pm: Dainius Pulauskas Trio (Lithuania), (9:30pm)
Astrid Engberg (Denmark).
Fri 3, 6pm: Atanas Valkov (Poland). (7:15pm) Rana Haggag (Egypt).
Fountain Stage
Fri 3, 2pm: Jazzinino Bandmakers showcase. (4.30pm) Eftekasat (Egypt).
Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) eleventh edition (12 October- 5 November)
Beit Al-Sinnari
Mongue Ally, Behind Al Saneya Secondary School, Al Sayeda Zeinab Square, Cairo, Tel 02 2390 9471
Thurs 2 performed in French/Arabic, 10pm and Sat 4, performed in Arabic/English, 10pm: Nini Ya Momo is a Moroccan lullaby that is equivalent to "Ho Ninna Ho" in Egyptian Arabic. It is a traditional song that is sung by mothers to their children to lull them to sleep. The song is closely linked to Moroccan culture and values, such as social cohesion and family. The performance, stage directed by Henri Jules Julien, unfolds to a sound composition created by Zouheir Atbane based on Moroccan lullabies collected from very old women in all corners of the country, speaking its many languages.
Austrian Cultural Forum
1103 Cornishe El-Nile, Garden City - 1st floor, apt 7 (next to Shepheard Hotel)
Sun 5 performed in Arabic/English, 9pm: Nini Ya Momo is a Moroccan lullaby that is equivalent to "Ho Ninna Ho" in Egyptian Arabic.
The Factory
Downtown
Sat 4 and Sun 5, 3pm: Bird contemporary dance performance (Tunisia) features dancer and choreographer Sofiane Ouissi
In Bird, co-created by Selma Ouissi, the artists invite audiences to reflect on questions of being, creation, and connection. How can we simply be in conscious presence in the same space? What will this cohabitation trigger? Which body, which states of being will emerge in this perpetually transforming space, crossed by a dancing body and a flying bird? How can one invent a dance shaped by this cohabitation?
Fri 3-Sun 5, 2-10pm (Free Entrance, no registration needed):
How am I here? (Syria) a virtual reality show. Years after leaving their homeland, many Syrians experience restless feelings about homecoming, wondering if it is the expected desire or another nightmare. Choreographer and cultural policies expert Mey Seifan reflects on these feelings in her trans-medial performance, How am I here? Trapped in the vacuum between nightmarish homecoming and the oppressive reality of exile, the performance employs VR technology, AI, and choreographed enactment of the dreams to reflect an emotionally charged experience. How am I here? offers insights into the archived dreams that inspired the performance, as they were written and told. It includes personal comments, tutorials on lucid dreams and using the arts to communicate trauma; along with an audio-dream journey performed by singer Shadi Ali.
Rawabet Art Space
5 Hussien El-Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Bassiouny St, from Talaat Harb Square, Downtown
Thurs 2, 7pm and Fri 3, 9pm: As part of its Arab Arts Focus programme (AAF), D-CAF presents The Waterproofed Artist interactive dance performance from Morocco (Language: English with Arabic subtitles). In The Waterproofed Artist, Youness Atbane casts a skeptical eye on the power dynamics that permeate the global art scene.
Sat 4, 8.30pm: Smell of Cement and 205 Questions About Dance contemporary dance performances (Egypt/ Germany) performed by Eman Hussein and Youssra El-Hawary, Smell of Cement demonstrates that working with the body goes beyond merely pain and sweat. Hussein, is a dancer, choreographer and dance filmmaker based between Cairo and Zurich. El-Hawary is a composer, singer-songwriter, sound designer, accordionist, and performer from Cairo, Egypt. 205 Questions About Dance choreography asks more than one fundamental question about dance – the dancers investigate how dance itself can pose questions. By using the techniques of repetition, variation and rearrangement of movement, levels of meaning gradually overlap; questioning the limits of the body, its main characteristics and very ways of functioning.
Sun 5, 5-7pm: A double bill Cosmos and How ELFANN Begin contemporary dance performances (Palestine), Cosmos is a distinctive artistic performance, combining theatre, dance, and circus arts. In continuous communication with the audience, Ashtar Muallem, with the direction of Emile Saba and Clément Dazin, presents her personal journey and skills collected in isolation – from practicing yoga and meditation to learning to read tarot and auras – with whimsy, satire, and poetic beauty. Muallem is a multidisciplinary artist from Jerusalem working on the intersection between circus, dance, and theatre. In 2013, she co-created B-Orders with Fadi Zmurrod, a duo performance produced by the Palestinian Circus. In 2019, she produced her first solo, Enheduanna, directed by Iman Aoun with ASHTAR Theatre in Palestine. Muallem performs with renowned companies between Palestine and Europe and teaches workshops that combine theatre, dance, circus and yoga.
Arab Music Institute
22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373
Sun 5, 8.30pm: A concert of Umm Kolthoum songs.
Beit Al-Seheimi
Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2787 8865
Every Sunday, 8pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments.
Every Friday, 8pm: “Alaragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144
Main Hall
Thurs 2, 8.30pm: The National Arab Music ensemble.
Fri 3, 8.30pm: The Talents Development Centre concert.
Sat 4, 8.30pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra
Sun 5, 8.30pm: For the first time in Egypt, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev and featuring Egyptian violinist and winner of international awards Amira Abouzahra, will perform works by Rageh Dawoud, Tchaikovsky and Korsakov.
Mon 6, 8.30pm: For the first time in Egypt, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev and featuring pianist Adam Gutseriev and cellist Daly Gutseriev, will perform works by Rageh Dawoud, Tchaikovsky and Korsakov.
Small Hall
Thurs 2, 8.30pm: A concert features oud duet Dina Abdel-Hamid and Ghassan Alyoussef.
Fri 3, 8.30pm: Singing recital by Livia and Fred from Brazil.
Tues 7, 8.30pm: Piano recital by Seif Eldeen Sherif.
Thurs 9, 8.30pm: Guitar recital from Spain.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre
12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707
Fri 3 and Sat 4, 8.30pm: Asham Eblis (Satan’s Wish) dance performance by the Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre company.
Thurs 9, 8.30pm: The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe, led by Sufi chanter Amer El-Toni performs Sufi chants and dances.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary
Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Muaaz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475
Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music
(Performances every Sat and Wed, 7.30pm)
Makan
1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878
Every Tuesday, 8pm: Mawawil features vocalists Hend and Sara in a repertoire of traditional music of the Nile Delta, Al Jaafra music played by Arab Tribes from Aswan and Nass Makan band.
Every Wednesday, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher ensemble featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sabah.
Room Art Space & Café
10 Etihad Al Mohamin, Garden City, Tel 01000 068 159
Thurs 2, 8pm: Badiaa Casino is back, Badia Bohemian Project Casino will take you on a journey through time and space. You will live and hear the best folklore atmosphere from the beautiful time of the mesmerizing classical music, and we will spend two hours with the best authentic folk tune. The lineup: Michael Emad (oud),
Mo'men (nay), Kenish, Wessam, Mosaad, Abu Hadima
(percussion), and Mariam Salem and Rehab Khattab (singing).
Fri 3, 8pm: A concert by Egyptian progressive rock band Paranoid Eyes.
Sat 4, 8pm: Nos Darba band performs songs from different countries and cultures around the world with a unique mixture of tunes.
Tues 7, 8pm: Karaoke night.
Thurs 9, 8pm: Dream pop night with Toussa and Friends, who will be performing some original songs along dreamy covers with her dear friends: Saher Yousry on keys, Zeyad Essam on lead guitar, Youssef Hassan on bass guitar, and Ashraf Gebreil on the drums.
The Spot Mall, infront of AUC Gate 4, New Cairo
Thurs 2 and Thurs 9, 9pm: Karaoke night.
Mon 6, 9pm: Zaeer band playing their original heavy tunes and Omnivore band playing some of the most iconic cover tracks from the best metal bands.
Wed 8, 8pm: Karaoke night.
El Sawy Culturewheel
End of 26th of July St, underneath the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448
River Hall
Thurs 2, 7.30pm: Religious chanting by Abu Shaar Brothers troupe.
Fri 3, 8pm: Rock night by VYRUS band.
Thurs 9, 8pm: Singing recital by Mersal.
Wisdom Hall
Thurs 2, 6.30pm and 8.30pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late diva Umm Kolthoum performing two of her much-loved songs Al Atlal (the ruins) and Asa’al Rouhak (ask yourself).
Fri 3, 8pm: A concert by Happiness Street Orchestra for Developing Youth.
Thurs 9, 8pm: Eshtry menni (believe me) podcast (live episode).
Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC)
AUC’s Tahrir Campus, Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077
Ewart Memorial Hall
Fri 3, 9pm: A concert by Fouad and Mounib, an Egyptian music project, founded in 2016 by pianist and violinist, Mohamed Fouad and Ahmed Mounib with the concept of music being a universal language, through which they can express many feelings, events, and life changes.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre)
Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106
Fri 3, 8.30pm: Alexandria Opera Strings Orchestra.
Sun 5, 8.30pm: Guitar recital from Spain.
Tues 7, 8.30pm: For the first time in Egypt, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev and featuring pianist Adam Gutseriev and cellist Daly Gutseriev, will perform works by Rageh Dawoud, Tchaikovsky and Korsakov.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 2 November, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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