Mid-Eastern Dance: Experimental Atelier (MEDEA) II

DIAMONDS!

 

Held at the world-famous Casablanca Restaurant in Alexandria, VA, on Sunday, Nov. 23rd, 2003.

 

We are all DIAMONDS!

Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise?

That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs

from Maya Angelou, excerpted from "Still I Rise"

 

MEDEA II  

Mid-Eastern Dance: Experimental Atelier II  

The MEDEA performance series, sponsored by Alay'nya and the Troupe Seraband, is held annually each autumn. "MEDEA is an opportunity for dancers to express their artistic creativity in ways that might not fit in with their 'usual' performance venues at restaurants, etc. MEDEA is particularly open to innovative works and to works-in-progress," says Alay'nya, Founder of Troupe Seraband and Artistic Director for the MEDEA series.

The 2004 theme for MEDEA was "Diamonds." The artists and dancers participating in MEDEA were asked to develop new works along this theme.

Dance artists interpreted "Diamonds" in ways ranging from the frivolous and fun (in "Operation Diamonds" and "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend") to subtle and philosophical, expressed in Alay'nya's closing piece, set to Pink Floyd's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond."

As a new step, the different artists are sharing their personal experiences with you - introspective and otherwise - as they immersed themselves in preparation for this work. Look for their thoughts - and photos - in the following section, "Artists".

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PROGRAMME

Performances by leading area dancers:

• Alay'nya
• Amustela
• Kamaria (DurlaKat1@aol.com)
• Katayoun (katayoundance@hotmail.com)
• Katayoun's 'Desert Doves' - in a wonderful group number
• Maha Najeeb
• Nadira
• Princess Zaza with Darren Wayne

Introducing in their dance debut performances

• Suhaila and Khaalida in a duet performance,
• Khaalida in her solo debut, and
• Farida in a dramatic interpretation as the "Queen of Diamonds"

And special thanks to the cast of "Operation Diamond":

• Alan Steinberg - as the "Special Agent"
• Artie Briggs - as the "Purveyor of Rare Goods"
• Gerson Kuhr - as the "Mastermind"
• Aziza - as the "Intrepid Girl Photographer"
• Annakiya - as the "Beautiful Flower Girl"
• and Rafi Labriny - in a special cameo role as the "Restaurant Manager"

Special thanks to all who made this happen!

• Alan Steinberg, Artie Briggs, and Gerson Kuhr - guest artists in "Operation Diamond"
• Rafi Labriny - Owner and Manager of Casablanca - cameo appearance in "Operation Diamond"
• Maha Najeeb - Producer
• Gerson Kuhr - Master of Ceremonies
• Ani S. - "Production Manager"
• Rafi Labriny - pinch-hitting as the "music man" while still running the restaurant during the show
• Anne W. - graphics and artistic design
• Ani S. - program development and production
• Alan Steinberg - for music
• Alan Steinberg, Maha Najeeb, Gerson Kuhr, and Khaalida - props
• Gerson Kuhr - props transportation
• Gail - dressing and calming the dancers
• John - video
• Crystal Barnes, Khaalida, and Alan Steinberg - photography
• Artie Briggs - coordination and calming influence

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The ARTISTS

Special Invited Guest Artist Amustela

Amustela writes:

"Diamonds embody the attainment of perfection. A perfect chemical composition of quaternary-bonded carbon - with no other elements or impurities, producing the strongest and most beautiful substance known. Clear and sparkling, diamonds have enchanted, mesmerized and captivated humankind..... but some have also become obsessed with their beauty. Greed and lust for the diamond's sparkle and status have tarnished and ruined many lives.

"Diamonds are hard. Diamonds are cold. Many diamonds have flaws. People can loose the special elements of themselves, blinded by the glitter of the fast side of life, while striving to obtain an unobtainable "pure perfection". Treasure the real "diamonds" in your life, the soft jewel of kindness, the warmth of love, and the imperfections of human frailty."

 

"Amustela points us to developing something very unusual: The 'soft' quality of diamond brilliance. She intuitively leads us to the essence of the well-known mantra, 'Om Mane Padme Hum' (the jewel in the heart of the lotus).

"This is about recognizing that each of us is a 'diamond' - a jewel, within the lotus of our being. And it is a basis for learning to appreciate and value ourselves more. So a dance could be just an expression of appreciating your own beauty, sensuality, and inner essence on ever-deepening levels."

- Alay'nya

THE PERFORMANCE

 

Photos from "Diamonds"!

 

"Operation Diamond," starring the winsome Maha Najeeb!
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES) Photo Credits: First three: Alan Steinberg, and last: Rose Kislowski, all used with permission. Photo editing by Alay'nya.
Solo and Duet Performances - Part I
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES) Photo Credits: All four photos by Alan Steinberg, used with permission. Photo editing by Alay'nya.
Solo, Duet, and Group Performances - Continued
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES) Photo Credits: First, third, and fourth photos by Alan Steinberg, second photo by Rose Kislowski, all used with permission. Photo editing by Alay'nya.
Solo and Duet Performances - Continued
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES) Photo Credits: First photo by Alan Steinberg; second, third, and fourth by Rose Kislowski, all used with permission. Photo editing by Alay'nya.
Solo and Duet Performances - Being Filled In
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES) Photo Credits: First photo by Abby Reynolds; more photos to come, used with permission. Photo editing by Alay'nya.
Alay'nya - Concluding Solo
(CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE) Photo Credit: Alan Steinberg, used with permission. Photo editing by Alay'nya.

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DIALOGUES

 

Do you have thoughts or comments that you'd like to share about "Diamonds"?

E-mail them to Alay'nya at alaynya@alaynya.com.

(Please note: Not every comment can be published; the editor's good judgment and time constraints will apply.)

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Closing Thoughts

 

from Alay'nya

"One possible interpretation - one that I've had in my own life - is that diamonds are formed in a more extreme manner than the mere act of smelting a precious metal from ore. In crucible smelting, we just have to get the temperature hot enough to melt away the dross and be left with the silver or gold. But diamonds are formed by an intense combination of pressure and heat - creating a diamond is a truly transformative process. And many of us on this planet are undergoing some form or another of transformation. This show - "Diamonds" - has been a way to acknowledge and even celebrate this!"