El Saqiyeh

Press Release

Immediate

El Saqiyeh

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Thu 26 Apr, 7.30pm – £7 (£5)

www.the-drum.org.uk

Internationally acclaimed Iskander Dance Company present ‘El Saqiyeh’ at The Drum on Thu 26 Apr, 7.30pm – £7 (£5).

^{This ancient Hilal form of dance draws deeply on Egyptian/Arab and wider eastern dance traditions. This follows Iskandar’s successful appearance at the Edinburgh Festival 2006, and a rapturously received European tour 2006/07. and Anna Thomas (a dancer and teacher from Birmingham) and the master percussionist Ibrahim el Minyawi with the recorded music of the ‘Musicians of the Nile’. Alessandro el Bascioni has always been drawn to the Arab culture since he was a child. In his youth he studied classical Arabic language and travelled in the Middle East. His passion for the culture extended to dance where he trained in North African and African Dance and later worked with dance therapy.}

Alessandro el Bascioni is the effervescent International choreographer and Artistic Director behind Iskander Dance Company. Italian born El Bascioni’s dancing and creative skills bring to the dance unique qualities of lyricism and fluidity; strong presence and an instinctive and deep musical sense. He has the ability to be light and earthy at the same time, combining strength and grace, expansion and containment. Dynamically, he engages the audience in a whole and vibrant expression.

In this production Alessandro is joined by the three excellent dancers, Alaitz Arregi Sudupe, Andrea Beaumann

‘…El Saqiyeh (translated as the Waterwheel) is like an oasis of restorative calm’

THE HERALD

‘It was the sense of freedom which ran through Iskandar Dance Company’beautiful El Saqiyeh.. The quality of North African dancing is like no other, a joyful bounce… giving a wonderful sense of harmony between costume, dance and music.’

BALLET MAGAZINE

Catch them while you can in Birmingham, as post The Drum they will continue their tour to London, Bruxelles, Paris, and Milan. Tickets for El Saqiyeh are on sale now on – 0121 333 2444 or online at www.the-drum.org.uk.

Ends

MEDIA CONTACT: Sati Parmar on 0121 333 2404 – s.parmar@the-drum.org.uk

Notes to Editors: –

Alessandro el Bascioni will also be holding a Hilal Dance Workshop, with concepts inspired by the ‘El Saqiyeh’ performance, at the Mac (Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham) on Saturday 28 April, 12.00noon – 14.00pm. All levels welcome. For bookings please contact Angela King-Vennell – Tel: 07801 985 980 email: bacidiangeli@hotmail.co.uk.

Artist Biography:

Alessandro el Bascioni is an international dancer, choreographer and teacher based in London, has trained and specialised in Hilal Dance® for over 10 years. His earlier training was in African dance, North African and dance therapy. He later researched different dance forms which lead him to discover Hilal Dance in 1996. In recent years he has toured extensively with the Hilal Dance Company in major productions including Al Janub (2001). He then began his collaboration with the international artist and founder Suraya Hilal in the creation of her latest work, Aseel (2004).

In 2005 he set up and launched his own Iskandar Dance Company, with the premiere of his new work El Saqiyeh in Tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf in March 2006 & toured internationally among the main venues, Kultur-haus in Switzerland, Edinburgh Festival 06 Scotland, International dance Festival Karlsruhe Germany.

Alessandro is also a member of the board of directors of the Hilal Art Foundation, the organised body for advancing Hilal Dance and the creative work of Suraya Hilal in the world community.