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Dances Under the Crescent Moon with ANAR DANA

ANAR DANA: Helene Eriksen's Traditional Dance Theatre presents women's dance and culture from the regions of North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. ANAR means pomegranate and DANA seed; the name symbolizes the crystalline beauty of collective traditions...where each kernel is unique and luminous, yet together they form a fruit that is celebrated in the Middle East as a symbol of beauty, fertility and culture. The ancient traditions of these predominately Muslim societies are largely unknown in the West and are disappearing quickly in our globalized world. Our view of the cultures of the Muslim world are skewed by clichés, deep seated fears and current wars. ANAR DANA brings these breathtaking and inspiring traditions into a new focus for a wider audience through professional dance concerts with spectacular music and costumes.

Every year in September a new group of women begin on the ten-month long journey that is ANAR DANA: meeting once a month for an intensive twelve-hour weekend workshop. This year's repertoire includes spoon dances from Turkey, a suite of Russian dance and song, a Tunisian wedding ceremony, a dance to classical Arabic music "Sama'i" in 10/8, dances from Transylvania in Romania, Kurdish dances from Iran and a dance from Afghanistan.. In addition Helene Eriksen, internationally renown dancer, scholar and choreographer will join them on stage with evocative solo dances.