Multicultural Arts Victoria presents

YALLA! Celebrating 10 years of Melbourne's Middle Eastern Music & Dance Group,

When: Sunday 25th November, Doors Open at 3pm
Where: Fitzroy Town Hall, Napier St. Fitzroy
Tickets: Advance Bookings $16 Full/$14 Concession;
At the door $20 full/$14 Concession
Book online www.dancingisis.com or call (0419) 523 710

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Yalla (Arabic for Let’s Go!) have transfixed audiences all around Australia, with their spicy mix of traditional music and dance ranging through the Egyptian styles of Shaabi (folk), Baladi (urban folk) and Sharqi (classical) to the sounds of Persia, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco and other North African tribal and trance rhythms.

The group was a highlight of this year’s National Folk Festival in Canberra and has performed at The Spiegeltent (Melbourne International Arts Festival), Port Fairy Folk Festival (Vic.), Fairbridge Folk Festival (WA), Cygnet Festival (Tas.), Folk Alliance Conference (SA), Queensland Music Festival and in tours across regional Victoria.

Founding member Phil Carroll passion for Middle-Eastern music and culture has taken him to study his craft in Morocco, Egypt and Turkey and with Yalla he plays Arabic flute (ney), oboe (mizmar) and quartertone accordion.

Other players in this East meets West flavoured ensemble are Mik Vella, Anita Larkin and Matt Stonehouse on percussion (tabul, darrabukas, reqs and dufs), Ernie Gruner on violin, Phil Gunter on lute (oud) and dancer Maria Sangiorgi also on percussion and vocals.

Over their ten years together, Yalla has featured some of Melbourne’s most consummate exponents of Middle-Eastern music in its ranks and for this special occasion, they will be rejoined by past players Andrew Khulmann, Brahim Benhim, Nashat Abdelesayed, Ben Last, John Norton and Pin Rada.

Belly dancing is integral to the music of Yalla and this celebration will be swaying to the dance movements of the oringinal Snake Sisters, Daughters of Isis and Underbelly.

There will also be cameo musical performances from guests including duo Bohemian Nights, the Sanctuary Ensemble with their more relaxed Turkish style of music and dance known as Sufi and Monkey Brigade, a young group inspired by Afro-funk, hip-hop and rap.

With the concert beginning at 6.30pm, doors open at 3.00pm for free workshops in Arabic drumming (3.30pm & 5.00pm), Egyptian dance (4.00pm) and Persian dance (4.30pm), henna painting and stalls providing food and beverage, Middle-Eastern dance wear, books, CD’s and information. There will be a bar operating.

MORE INFORMATION

www.dancingisis.com

www.multiculturalarts.com.au

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Generously supported by Multicultural Arts Victoria, Underbelly, Ausdance, La Boite and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.