The Sixth Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) (17 March-8 April) Maq'ad of Sultan Qaitbay Thurs 30, 3.20 pm-3.50 pm: The Budapest Marionettes - Performance of Bence Sarkadi, part of the Backstreet Festival. Fri 31, 2-5pm: An outdoor dance work entitled The Birds' Murmuration (UK/Egypt), choreographed by Meritxell Checa with artistic assistants: Nadenh Poan and Christian Brinklow. What makes the birds move and dance? Why together, why alone? Why to the right, why to the left, why up, down, in circles? Why like that? The Birds' Murmuration is a celebration of the pleasure of moving just as we are, just as we feel, just as we like. The disabled and non-disabled dance artists of the Stopgap project have collaborated with their counterparts in Cairo to create The Birds' Murmuration short dance work. Al Shawarby Street Downtown The Budapest Marionettes - Performance of Bence Sarkadi I D CAF17 Thurs 30, 2-2.30pm: The Budapest Marionettes - Performance of Bence Sarkadi, part of the Backstreet Festival. Sat 1 April, 2-5pm: The Birds' Murmuration (UK/Egypt) outdoor dance work, choreographed by Meritxell Checa with artistic assistants: Nadenh Poan and Christian Brinklow. AUC Falaki Theatre American University in Cairo, Tahrir Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 88721446 Fri 31, 9pm: Trumpeter, santur player, vocalist, and composer Amir El-Saffar has distinguished himself with a mastery of diverse musical traditions and a singular approach to combining Middle Eastern musical languages with jazz and other styles of contemporary music. Thurs 6, 8 to 8:55pm: “The Privileged Spectator”, a non-protest song recital (Germany) performed by Tobias Christl and Thorbjörn Björnsson (Language: German/English with Arabic Subtitles). The American University in Cairo Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077 Ewart Memorial Hall Thurs 30, 8pm (Free entry): Hakawy Al Jazz (Jazz Tales) Festival presents Akram Al-Sharkawy (Egypt) and Huntertones band (USA). Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 30, 8pm: Al-Enshad Al-Dini, conducted by Omar Farahat troupe in a programme of religious songs. Sun 2, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs late singer-composer Abdel-Wahab songs. Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muizz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, conducted by Abdel-Rahman Al-Shafaai, performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments. Every Friday, 8.30pm: “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muizz 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 30-Fri 31, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra present ballet “Zorba.” Sat 1, 8pm: the Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents Sun 2, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre's concert. Tues 4, 8pm: Composer Rageh Dawoud. Thurs 6, 8pm: The Spring concert features singer Hani Shaker. Open-Air Theatre Sat 1, 8pm: Percussionist Nesma Abdel-Aziz plays on marimba. Wed 5, 8pm: A concert by Coptic chanter Marco Mamdouh. Thurs 6, 8pm: A Spring concert features singer Sami Ibrahim. Small Hall Thurs 30, 8pm: Piano recital by Elena Dzamashvilli and Haytham Ibrahim playing music pieces by Ferencz Liszt. Fri 31, 8pm: Oriental jazz by Yehia Khalil and his band. Sat 1, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre's concert. Mon 3, 8pm: Boghdady band, led by Magdi Boghdady. Thurs 6, 8pm: A concert features Harpist Manal Mohieddin and violinist Hossam Shehata. 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, Mon and Wed, 8pm, free admission). Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Thurs 30, 8pm: The Arab Takht troupe, led by Yasser Moawad. Fri 31, 8pm: Fan troupe, led by Yehia Abdel-Halim. Sat 1, Sun 2, 8pm: Um Al-Nour Choir concert. Thurs 6, Fri 7, Sat 8, 8pm: Women from Egypt show performed by Fursan Al-Sharq Lil Turath Dance Company. Makan SaadZaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 02 2792 0878 Every Monday: (fixed event) Zikr and Sufi night. Every Tuesday, 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm and reservations is canceled at 7.30pm):Mawawil and GamalatShiha present traditional music of the Nile Delta; Nubian Fadeka music and songs with Aragid, featuring SalehAbbass and Farah Al-Masri; traditional Sudanese music and songs performed by Queen of Henna Settouna; Al-Jaafra music played by musicians from Aswan; Nass Makan (People from Makan) and Sanet perform traditional music from Eritrea. Every Wednesday, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher, featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sab. El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A El-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown, Tel 011 50995354 Al Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 30, 8pm: Zar and Sufi music and singing presented by the exceptional Darawish Abul-Gheit (Abul-Gheit dervishes) band, provide a spiritual experience, with Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes, an exciting fusion of Egyptian folk art. Sat 1 April, 8pm: Asyad Al-Zar (The Masters of Zar) band performs healing music. El Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 River Hall Thurs 30, 7pm: Al-Mawlawiya Al-Masreya troupe, led by Sufi singer Amer Al-Toni performs Sufi songs and dances. Sat 1 April, 7.30pm: A stand-up comedy show. Sun 2, 7.30pm: Classical Arab music and songs performed by Zekriaty (My Memories) band. Mon 3, 7.30pm: Damasco band performs Syrian songs. Wed 5, 7.30pm: Arabish band plays Arabic pop and famous foreign songs. Thurs 6, 7pm: Mounib band performs Nubian songs. Wisdom Hall Fri 31, 8pm: Classical Arab songs by singer Sherif Ismail. Sun 2, 7.30pm: Halaket Zikr, a modern religious Sufi chanting band. Tues 4, 7.30pm: With semsemeya melodies you're going to meet Nagham Al Canal, conducted by Gamal Hafez, band that presents the folklore of canal cities through music and songs distinguished for its beautiful lyrics and the originality of canal cities. Wed 5, 7.30pm: Oshaq Al-Tarab (singing lovers) band in a repertoire of classical Arab songs. Thurs 6, 6 and 8pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives Um Kolthoum concerts playing two of her best songs. Talaat Harb Cultural Centre Al-Sayyeda Nafissa St, Zeinhom area. Tel 02 2362 2647 Fri 31, 1pm: Celebrating the Orphans Day, an entertaining programme offers “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), folk dance performances, pantomime and mime shows. ALEXANDRIA Alexandria Opera House (SayedDarwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel (03)4800138/ 486 5106 Thurs 30, 8pm: Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the death of singer Abdel-Halim Hafez, the Opera Arab Music troupe, conducted by maestro Mohamed Al-Mogui and featuring the opera stars performs a number of his much-loved songs. Sat 1, 8pm: Les Petits Chats band in a programme of international songs. Tues 4, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Strings Orchestra's concert. Thurs 6, 8pm: Konoz (treasures) troupe featuring singer Mahmoud Darwish performs classical Arab songs. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 BACC Main Hall Thurs 30, 7pm: A Palestinian folk dance concert organized in celebration of the Land Day, in cooperation with the Palestinian Consulate. Sat 1, 7pm (Free entry): Hakawy Al Jazz (Jazz Tales) Festival presents Akram Al-Sharkawy (Egypt) and Huntertones band (USA). Tues 4, 4&7pm: Cairokee band presents two concerts in cooperation with the Alexandria International Book Fair. BACC Small Hall Thurs 6, 7pm: Singer Fayrouz Karawya in Mazagang concert.
