Recent Events
3rd Bi-Annual HAMSA-Fest
August 25-26, 2007
Chicago
Once again, Genesis at the Crossroads transformed Lincoln Park into a Middle Eastern bazaar showcasing world-renowned instrumental and vocal music, dance, visual and culinary art from the Middle East and North Africa. Our Children’s tent featured dance, drumming, storytelling, and the Chicago Children’s Museum instrument-making workshop (from recycled metal.) This open festival for the City of Chicago engaged people of all ages to experience a taste of the region through its art and food while challenging beliefs about personal and cultural identity. Local vendors sold ethnic wares while local restaurants had regional food for purchase. This festival featured fair trade Palestinian olive oil sales and samples of socially conscious Annie’s Homegrown,
Peace, Pasta and Parmesan for children.
Artists included:
Lebanese Vocalist Christine Atallah & the Bassalindos
Between Worlds
Avishai Cohen’s Trio X
Deeply Rooted Dance Company
Kid Pan Alley with local Chicago-area children singers
Pharaoh’s Daughter
& Broadcast on 98.7 WFMT - our cross-cultural collaborative finale:
The World Premiere of the Genesis World Music Ensemble
Headliners included the historic pairing of Moroccan Oud virtuoso, Haj Youness alongside world-renowned Tenor, Greek-born American Tenor Alberto Mizrahi with guest artist, Pianist and Harmonica legend, Howard Levy. Ensemble members included Iranian guitarist Shahin Shahida, Afghan vocalist and instrumentalist, Humayun Khan, Ethiopian bass player, Mooneeb Jewad, French-Canadian, Jean-Christophe Leroy on percussion, with Moroccans Anis Rhanime also on percussion, Mohcine Saqi on drums and percussion, Kader Rhanime on saxophone and Hicham El Anmari on keyboard.
Toured to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC (8/27/07)
Live audio/video webstream - visit www.kennedy center.org/millennium stage
Part of ARTSLINK Casablanca
Links
Sponsors
Corporate and foundation co-sponsors include The Illinois Arts Council, Nuveen Investments, Pepsi, The Chicago Children’s Museum, The Chicago Park District, Devon Bank, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Klest Injury Law Firm, Hotel Monaco, Maza Restaurant, Waste Management, Kabul House, Hotel Indigo, Norooz Productions, Arabesques Culture & Arts, 98.7 WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network, & The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Chicago & Casablanca components of this tour are partially supported by a grant from the Governors’ International Arts Exchange Program of the Illinois Arts Council.
