A passion for ethnic dance The Indian Anart Dance Ensemble finished its series of performances at the Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria some days ago. Indian culture aficionados flocked to the theatre in their hundreds and included Egyptian audiences, foreign diplomats and members of the Indian community. The ensemble performed two specially designed items for the opening ceremony of the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival. The group specialises in a fusion of classical Kathak dance and contemporary dance. A leading classical dance form of North India, Kathak is derived from the word " Katha ", the art of storytelling. An innovative approach and synthesis of creativity and intelligence are the hallmarks of this dance company. The troupe has performed extensively in India and over 30 countries abroad and has won several awards. On the occasion of India being the guest of honour at the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), Indian Ambassador to Egypt R Swaminathan and his wife Suchitra Durai organised a lavish reception in honour of Indian film stars who were guests of the CIFF. The reception was attended by prominent Egyptian TV and cinema stars and a galaxy of Egyptian media personalities, journalists and film critics. Gorgeous star of more than 300 films Sridevi and producer of several successful Bollywood films Boney Kapoor were present to welcome the Egyptian actors including, among others Nadia El-Guindi, who is honoured in this year's round, Yehia El-Fakharani, Abdel-Aziz Makhyoun, actress Rania Youssef and her husband, film producer Mohamed Moukhtar, comedian Entessar and handsome actor Khaled Abul-Naga. Among other guests were the head of the Egyptian- Indian Friendship Association and Chairman of the National Democratic Party Media Committee Alieddin Hilal and Former foreign minister Ahmed Maher. Hollywood ravishing Mexican-Lebanese actress Salma Hayek, one of the 33rd CIFF's guests of honour, and her business tycoon husband François Henri Pinault and two-year old daughter Valentina were accompanied by the Secretary- General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and world-renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass in a tour at the Giza Pyramids. Hawass awed the guests with the secrets of the Sphinx, then they moved to Saqqara area where they visited the Step Pyramid as well as the newly discovered pyramid in the same area. At the end of the tour, Hawass gave Hayek a Spanish version of one of his books about the world of the Pharaohs, and to her daughter a book on Tutankhamun. In conjunction with the 33rd CIFF, which will conclude its activities tomorrow, a gripping seminar was held for Hollywood superstar Samuel L Jackson. Jackson declared that he was thrilled to be honoured at the CIFF and conveyed his excitement with visiting Egypt for the second time, saying: "I enjoyed the breathtaking inaugural ceremony and will follow up on the progress of Egyptian cinema." Jackson was holding the Egyptian flag at the seminar that was attended by CIFF President Ezzat Abu Ouf and CIFF Vice President Soheir Abdel-Kader. photos: Ayman Barayez French Ambassador to Egypt Jean Félix Paganon hosted a lavish reception at the garden of the French Embassy in Giza celebrating French Journalism Day. The reception was crowned by the presence of French Press Councillor Yannick Tagand, the embassy Press Attaché Ahmed Fadel, novelist and Founding Editor of Akhbar Al-Adab Gamal El-Ghitani and his wife, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram's Alaaeddin children's magazine Magda El-Guindi and media figures Zeinab El-Imam, Laila Hafez, Nihal Rizk, Randa Abul-Azm, Samar El-Gamal and German correspondent Volkhard Windfuhr. Zamalek Diwan bookstore witnessed a stunning book signing ceremony for Hanan Mufid Fawzi 's newly released book, Laila Murad... I'm Still the Same published by Dar Al-Ufuq. The book is a biography of late veteran singer-cum-actress Laila Murad that traces her life since childhood. The writer is the daughter of veteran journalist and famous TV presenter Mufid Fawzi. The ceremony was attended by filmmaker Khaled Youssef, veteran actress Mervat Amin, promising cinema actresses Menna Shalabi and Donia Samir Ghanem, singer Simon and head of Garden City Lions Club Awatef Serageddin. Celebrating the Tunisian Conversion Day, Tunisian Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Tarek Belhabib hosted a prestigious reception at the embassy in Zamalek. A bevy of luminaries attended including Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Abdel-Moneim Said, media figure Wael El-Ibrashi, Tunisian actress Amira Al-Dhahabi, media councillor Soad Tarablsi and head of the Tunisian Media Centre Olfa Al-Salami. The Thief, a play by late Egyptian playwright Tawfiq El-Hakim, will be presented in Arabic at Malak Gabr Arts Theatre in the American University in Cairo (AUC) New Cairo Campus, on 19, 23 and 24 November at 7pm and on 20 and 21 November at 5pm. The play is adapted by Zeinab Mubarak, directed by Mahmoud El-Lozi with scenery and lighting by Stancil Campbell, costume design by Nermine Said, music and sound design by Ahmed Salah and technical direction by David Wlodarski. The jury of the Hassan Fathi Award for Architecture 2009 has announced architect Mohamed Awad as the first prize winner from among 18 competitors who presented 32 projects at a celebration entitled "Identity in Contemporary Egyptian Architecture" that took place at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Library Director Ismail Serageddin said that the annual competition is organised by the library in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Culture in Egypt in order to develop contemporary Egyptian architecture. Awad received a certificate and a medal for the Al-Alayli Home located at King Marriout in Alexandria. The AUC has launched a new Graduate School of Education (GSE) to address many of the educational challenges facing Egypt and the region. The new school, which has been authorised by the Supreme Council of Universities and the Ministry of Higher Education, will provide high quality professional and technical assistance for teachers, school administrators and education policymakers to qualify them for the international standards of education. The GSE's main goal is to foster excellence in practice and research for pre-university and higher education professionals through a coherent and sustainable system that integrates learning, research and policy dialogues. "I believe that the new initiative will support Egypt's educational reform priorities and will contribute to the ongoing national and international debate regarding educational development," said Samiha Peterson, interim dean of the GSE. More news on the AUC. The university is joining a number of online communities and social networks. Adding to its YouTube channel launched earlier this year, the university has launched a blog, "AUC Now", which is designed to engage readers in academic, cultural and community service activities at AUC. Additionally, AUC can be found on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and LinkedIn. Lectures and events held at the university can also be heard via podcasts on iTunes. El-Fiqi honours Al-Sheikh at the CFAM Saleh Sultan Agram The singers who performed the operetta photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid This week witnessed the remarkable inaugural and closing ceremony of the five-day 15th Cairo Festival for Arab Media (CFAM). The festival was inaugurated by Minister of Information Anas El-Fiqi and head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union and president of the festival Osama El-Sheikh at the Pharaonic Theatre in Media Production City. Delegations from 20 Arab countries participated this year with the United Arab of Emirates as the guest of honour, and Ahmed Abdallah Al-Sheikh heading its delegation. The inaugural ceremony began with screening a documentary by director Ezzeddin Said. Then CFAM honoured a galaxy of Egyptian and Arab media figures including the president of the Egyptian Nilesat Satellite Channels Sector, Ahmed Anis, veteran media figures Mahmoud Sultan, Nadia Saleh, Nagwa Abul-Naga, Awatef El-Badri and actors El-Montasser Bellah, Samir Sabri, and Safaa Abul-Seoud whose award was received by TV presenter Poussy Shalabi on her behalf, as well as honouring late media pioneers Mustafa Mahmoud, El-Sayed Radi, Nader Abul-Fotouh, Safia Salaheddin and Ragaa El-Naqash. The opening featured a thrilling operetta entitled One Universe written by poet Gamal Bekheit and composed by Ammar El-Sherei, performed by a plethora of Egyptian and Arab singers, including Egyptian singers Khaled Selim, Haitham Shaker, Rehab Metawei, Moroccan singer Ganat, and Lebanese singers Carol Samaha and Marwan Khouri. The closure ceremony also took place at the Pharaonic Theatre, during which El-Sheikh distributed awards on behalf of El-Fiqi. The event was enlivened by the charming voice of Lebanese singer Nancy Agram who appeared in an elegant emerald dress singing a number of her best- known songs. The ceremony was attended by a galaxy of high-profile personalities and media figures, among which were CFAM Secretary- General Ibrahim El-Aqabawi and media figures Amin Bassiouni, Sanaa Mansour, Wagdi El-Hakim, veteran actress Madiha Youssri and director Enaam Mohamed Ali.
