Reviving circus arts Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy (Culture Resource), with the support of the EU, the Culture Ministry and the Egyptian Tourist Authority, presents the first Cairo International Circus Festival. It will take place in several theatres such as Darb 17 18 and will include public streets and squares like Al-Moezz Street and Aslan Square. The programme includes performances by 14 circus groups from 12 European and Arab countries with the support of the embassies of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain and Hungary in addition to the Danish Cultural Centre in Cairo. Performances will include acrobatics, comedy shows, magic shows, fire shows and other different circus arts. The festival features I Baccala group from Italy, Circus Baf from Belgium, Sebas Company from Spain and CirkuSzinhaz from Hungary, among others. Festival manager Ashraf Qenawi explained: "We aim to revive the simple entertainment spirit that folk circus creates and to expand its audience base as well as make this art available to everyone in the community, this is why entry to all festival events is free." He added, "it was hard finding European and Arab fold circus groups, since street circus is not as popular as it used to be. The festival also includes workshops offered by European and Arab circus artists for the children of Al-Darb Al-Ahmar arts school. This school aims at creating different work opportunities for the children and youth of Al-Darb Al-Ahmar neighbourhood." During a recent visit to Spain, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Zahi Hawass met Queen Sophia of Spain at the royal palace in Madrid. Hawass offered Queen Sophia a special edition of his latest book, A Secret Voyage, which was engraved with a special plaque to commemorate the occasion. She was so delighted that she decided to put it on display in the royal palace. He offered the first copy of A Secret Voyage to President Hosni Mubarak while the second copy will be given to US President Barack Obama. After meeting the queen, Hawass presented his first lecture in Madrid entitled "My Discoveries" at the Palacio de Congresos. The 1,700 seat venue was completely sold out for the event. During his lecture, the president of the Instituto de Estudios del Antiguo Egipto announced that Hawass had been chosen as the personality of the year 2010 for his valuable contributions to the field of Egyptology. Addressing a large number of dignitaries attending the German Embassy's reception marking the 20th anniversary of Germany's Reunification, German Ambassador to Cairo Michael Bock, hailed the bilateral ties with Egypt as distinguished in all fields. Bock said that the students of 12 German schools in Egypt drew their impressions about the Reunification on the concrete blocks in front of the embassy's premises, whose walls have been also decorated with neon light formations leading their viewer to the old building of the former Eastern German Embassy in Doqqi, now accommodating the Goethe Institute. The celebration started with the masterly singing of the national anthems of both Egypt and Germany by an Egyptian-German student at the German school in Hurghada, whose graceful voice commanded the attention of the Embassy's guests. The reception was attended by Minister of Higher Education Hani Hilal, Social Solidarity Minister Ali Meselhi, Minister of Education Ahmed Zaki Badr, Communication and Information Technology Minister Tarek Kamel, as well as a large number of members of the German community and representatives of foreign and Arab embassies in Cairo. Korean Ambassador to Egypt Jong-Kon Yoon held a reception last Monday at his residence in Maadi to celebrate the National Day of South Korea. Minister of State for Family and Population Mushira Khattab was the guest of honour while members of foreign missions in Cairo also attended the reception. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the full- diplomatic ties between South Korea and Egypt. photos: Nasr Attia Marking the occasion of the Libyan Fateh Revolution, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Libyan Embassy in Cairo Ali Maraya hosted a lavish reception at the Cairo Marriott Hotel Aida Hall. The reception was attended by many high-profile personalities such as former prime minister Atef Ebeid, Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi, Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel-Hadi, Al-Ahram Al-Arabi magazine Chief Editor Abdel-Atti Mohamed, Chairman of the People's Assembly Foreign Relations Committee Mustafa El-Feki, Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Farag Al-Dokali and his Saudi counterpart Hisham Al-Nazer. Veteran actor Omar El-Hariri, actresses Aida Riyad and Ghada Ibrahim were also present. photo: Ahmed Abdel-Razek Culture Minister Farouk Hosni and speaker of the People's Assembly Fathi Sorour inaugurated the exhibition titled "Glimpses of Oman" at the Cairo Opera House gallery. It was inaugurated on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Omani National Day. It was attended by Omani Ambassador to Egypt Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Harythi, Present were Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Hani Hilal, Chairman of the Press Syndicate Makram Mohamed Ahmed and veteran actress Safiya El-Emari. ( see Listings p.5 ). President of the British University in Cairo (BUE) Ahmed Hamza welcomed the new director of the British Council in Egypt Mark Stephens. Within the framework of strengthening the relations between the two countries, Hamza and Stephens discussed reinforcing cultural and academic cooperation and strategies. A number of BUE officials attended the event such as Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Economics and Political Science David Kirby, head of PR and Communications Hend Abdel-Fattah, head of English Department Shadia Fahim and University Registrar Trevor Webb. Professor of Arab calligraphy Fathi Gouda and professor of glass design Mustafa Abdel-Rahim inaugurated an exhibition of wall rugs and carpets embroidered with Arab calligraphy by artist Ashraf Kahila at the Music Library gallery of the Cairo Opera House. The opening was also attended by director of the Opera House galleries Fayza Abdel-Moneim and a number of artists and art lovers ( see Listings p.5 ). On the 200th birth anniversary of world renowned Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, the Cairo Opera House organised in cooperation with the Polish Embassy in Cairo a concert at the Pyramids Theatre with the charming scene of the Sphinx in the background. Various Polish artists displayed classical, jazz and rock music and dance shows. The Pyramids Theatre located next to the Sound and Light venue was built by a Polish fund jointly with the Egyptian Association for Activating Tourism. During the event, Polish Ambassador to Egypt Piotr Puchta declared that Egypt was chosen to represent the Middle East as host of the concert to be held in only three countries around the world: Egypt, China and France.
