Arabesque: Incredible Cross-Cultural Festival “Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World” is an unprecedented three-week celebration of culture involving 800 artists from 22 Arab countries and territories. Don’t miss the final week of this extravaganza — many performances are free and most others have modest ticket prices (also see “Arabs Go All Out” in the February 2009 issue of The Washington Diplomat). Presented in cooperation with the League of Arab States, this $10 million collaboration with the Kennedy Center is the largest presentation of Arab arts ever held in the United States. Four years in the making, “Arabesque” runs until March 15 with an extraordinary global lineup of music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, fashion and film, from countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia and Djibouti, among many others. During the festive opening night, Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser presented Syria’s Children of the Al-Farah Choir, along with the impressive Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Morocco’s Bachir Attar and the Master Musicians of Jajouka, a reading by Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, a Debbie Allen production featuring American and Omani dancers, as well as Lebanon’s premier oud player Marcel Khalifé with his jazzy Al Mayadine Ensemble. “This festival exemplifies the Kennedy Center’s International Program,” said Kaiser, noting that he hopes Americans who don’t know much about the Arab world gain new “awareness and understanding” through the festival and perhaps change “their beliefs and prejudices.” “I believe the arts create peace and provide a window into understanding people,” the Kennedy Center president said. “I hope this festival will act as a catalyst towards achieving both between Arab and Western worlds.” Following the opening night performance, the Bahraini Embassy hosted almost 1,000 VIPs in an extravagant, contemporary tented dinner designed to give guests a virtual trip to today’s Arab world. “This really put Bahrain on the map,” beamed Bahraini Ambassador Houda Nonoo. “Everything came from Bahrain — the chef, the event designer and even the tables.” Bahraini Minister of Culture and Information Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa and her Bahraini designer, Melabu Design Director Ammar Basheir, conceived the elaborate dinner. From the incense and rose water upon entering to the lighted aqua chairs, triangular tables and modern chandeliers, everything was planned to showcase a contemporary, chic Bahrain. For the “Arabesque” festival itself, dozens of musical, dance and theater performances are taking place all over the Kennedy Center, along with exhibitions on Arab art, photography, sculpture, cuisine, mosaics, fashion and audio art. There’s even a “souk,” or traditional market, to make your Arab experience complete. One particularly colorful display is a collection of more than 40 elaborate Arab wedding dresses ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. There’s a dress from every member country of the Arab League, and each captures the exquisite textile art, decorative jewel-encrusted craftsmanship, and intimate familial heritage of Arab life. The festival title itself, “Arabesque,” refers to a type of calligraphy that was developed in ninth-century Iraq, although the word has other meanings. This “arabesque style” implies a flowing nature and intersecting geometric lines, and, as all dancers know, an arabesque is a favorite ballet move. More broadly, arabesque is often used as a description of visual, dance, theater or musical styles that demonstrate an Arab influence — certainly an appropriate description of the offerings on tap at the Kennedy Center this month. For more information, visit www.kennedy-center.org/arabesque. Top photo from left, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa, Arab League Ambassador Hussein Hassouna, Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser, and Nevine Hassouna attend the opening night celebration for “Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World,” a three-week festival of Arab performances at the Kennedy Center, now running through March 15. Middle photo from left, Ambassador of Bahrain Houda Nonoo, Melabu Design Director Ammar Basheir, and Bahraini Minister of Culture and Information Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa attend the elaborate dinner party that Bahrain threw after the opening of “Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World,” a massive festival that includes performances such as Lebanon’s renowned Caracalla Dance Theatre (front page) and the striking “Brides of the Arab World” exhibit (bottom photo) in the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations and Hall of States. Photos: Gail Scott Aschiana Helps Kabul's Working Street Children Aschiana, which means “the nest” in Farsi, is an organization in Kabul with a Washington fundraising arm that helps feed, clothe, educate and train the working street children of Afghanistan’s capital. Each winter, Aschiana’s Washington arm holds an annual Kite Gala to collect funds to further the nonprofit group’s crucial children’s oasis in the center of war-ravaged Kabul. Many embassies have offered their residences in the past, including Germany in 2007 and France in 2008. This year, departing Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen and his wife Kalpana hosted Aschiana’s Kite Gala, which hinted at the growing ties between the two South Asian nations. Ambassador Sen took the opportunity to emphasize how long India has been involved with Afghanistan. “Afghans and Indians have had a relationship for over 4,000 years,” he said, greeting the crowd that came to his residence on Feb 5 for the gala. “As a poor country, India has built $1.2 billion of roads and power for Afghanistan…. We have a very big stake in their stability and emergence as a moderate, democratic nation.” Afghan Ambassador Said Jawad graciously responded by thanking India for its continued support, concern and friendship. “After 4,000 years, we’ve got it right.” From left, Shamim Jawad, wife of the Afghan Ambassador, Aschiana Vice President Sima Lodin Calkin, and hostess Kalpana Sen attend the Kite Gala at the Indian Residence to raise funds for Aschiana’s new building in Kabul that will help working street children go to school and learn skills to start a new life. Front page: Patricia W. Silberman, right, president of the Aschiana Foundation — a U.S. nonprofit that assists children in Afghanistan — presents Kalpana Sen, wife of the Indian ambassador, with one of the Aschiana children’s paintings at the foundation’s Kite Gala held at the Indian Residence. Photos: Gail Scott Liechtenstein’s New Home Based on the heavy diplomatic turnout at the grand opening of Liechtenstein’s new embassy and residence, it was obvious how popular Ambassador Claudia Fritsche is in Washington. Rita Kieber-Beck, the tiny principality’s minister of foreign affairs, joined Ambassador Fritsche to officially open the high-rise chancery overlooking the Potomac River in the Georgetown Waterfront neighborhood, right next door to the House of Sweden. “We want to be as ‘transparent’ as a country as our new embassy is,” Fritsche promised, while the foreign minister praised the ambassador for giving a small country like Liechtenstein such a big presence in the top diplomatic posting in the world. After four different embassy locations in recent years, as well as three different residences, Fritsche and her loyal team finally have a permanent home. And a beautiful one it is with a balcony overlooking the Watergate, Kennedy Center and all the way up Virginia Avenue to the Washington Monument — perfect for watching fireworks on the Fourth of July! From left, U.S. Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.), co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Liechtenstein Caucus; Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs Rita Kieber-Beck; Ambassador of Liechtenstein Claudia Fritsche; and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Penn.), a member of the Congressional Friends of Liechtenstein Caucus, attend the opening of the new Liechtenstein Embassy Chancery and Residence by the Georgetown Waterfront. Photos: Robert Bowen Photography Washington Ballet’s Diplomatic Connections In just one month, the Washington Ballet traveled from Russia to Denmark and then onto Ireland. Of course, it helps to be in Washington to pull all that off without ever leaving town. First, 800 members and guests of the Ballet’s young Jeté Society converged at the Russian Embassy for a dance party that turned the embassy’s official silk-draped reception halls into a loud and boisterous night club — not exactly the Bolshoi but a great time all around. Next, the Washington Ballet kicked off its 2009 season at the Kennedy Center with “Highland Fling,” a combination of two premieres: a cherished Danish romance and a sassy Irish concoction. The Kennedy Center program began with the full-length “La Sylphide,” a romantic 1836 masterpiece set in the Scottish highlands and written by August Bournonville of Denmark. According to Washington Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre, “La Sylphide” boasts a longer production life than any other ballet. Thomas Lund, a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, and Sorella Englund, another world-renowned Bournonville interpreter, came from Copenhagen to help stage the production and coach the Washington dancers on the original interpretation, which includes more elements of mime and theater than most ballets. “The Danes are famous for this,” said Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Peterson, who attended the opening performance with his wife Birgitte Wilhelmsen and their older daughter. The second half of “Highland Fling” was “Celts,” an energetic, exuberant by Irish-American choreographer Lila York and set to the Chieftain’s raucous music. At the premiere, it delighted Irish Ambassador Michael Collins and his wife Maria, and it deservedly received an immediate standing ovation. Later at the St. Regis Hotel’s cast party, Maria Collins remembered all of her years learning Irish dancing. “Oh, yes, it reminded me of my dance lessons,” she said, thrusting her arms down straight to her side to mimic the popular dance form. “But unlike tonight, we were never allowed to move our arms in traditional Irish dancing.” Among the last to leave the party at Washington’s only Irish-owned hotel, Maria Collins added: “We Irish do know how to party!” Top photo from left, Russian Embassy Cultural Counselor Natalia Batova, wife of the Russian ambassador Natalia Kislyak, and Washington Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre attend the Jeté Society’s winter dance party at the Russian Embassy. Bottom photo from left, Marie Collins and her husband, Irish Ambassador Michael Collins, joined Irish-American Choreographer Lila York at a cast party to celebrate York’s energetic ballet “Celts,” part of the Washington Ballet’s “Highland Fling.” Photos: Gail Scott Singing for Your Supper Well, it wasn’t really a “supper” but rather a sing-along benefit cocktail party for the Washington Concert Opera. So not surprisingly, with so many opera buffs in attendance, the group couldn’t just turn out old campfire songs. To liven up the Washington Concert Opera’s annual gathering at the Residence of Monaco, Ellen Noghès, wife of Monaco Ambassador Gilles Noghès, decided that a sing-along was just what was needed. And Benefit Committee Chair Bobbie Brewster agreed. Backed by the strong voices of the Artistic Director Antony Walker and soprano Lisa Eden, guests enthusiastically sang all stanzas of two operatic favorites: “O Sole Mio” in Italian and “Toreador” in French. Guests then left humming and asking for more next year. Ambassador of Finland Pekka Lintu and his wife Laurel Colless join in the Washington Concert Opera’s sing-along — led by Artistic Director Antony Walker, bottom photo — at the organization’s fundraiser at the Monaco Residence. Front page from left, Ellen Noghès and her husband, Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Noghès — with Bobbie Brewster, chair of the Washington Concert Opera benefit committee — host a benefit reception and sing-along for the Washington Concert Opera at their residence. Photos: Gail Scott THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Silver Spring, MD 20915-1345 Tel: 301.933.3552 Fax: 301.949.0065 www.washdiplomat.com