10/25/12

Middle Eastern Drum/Dance Workshops & Performances Set At SLU

CANTON - St. Lawrence University hosts a residency of Middle Eastern drum and dance performers from Tuesday, October 30, through Friday, November 2, offering a series of workshops, talks and performances by composer Nikolai Ruskin and dance instructor Aegela (Angela Fisher). All of the events are open to the public, free of charge.

The schedule:

- Public performance: Tuesday, October 30,.5:30 6 p.m., Dana Dining Hall.
- Workshop: Intro to Middle Eastern Drumming with Ruskin, Thursday, November 1, noon, Winston Room (Sullivan Student Center). Participants are welcome to bring their own drums.
- Lecture: "Working Western in an Arab World," Thursday, November 1, 4:30 p.m., Room 123 of the Griffiths Arts Center.
- Workshop: Intro to Belly Dance with Aegela, Friday, November 2, noon, Room 107 of the Noble University Center. Both men and women are welcome, and participants should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
- Lecture/demonstration and hafla (festival) with guest performers, Friday, November 2, 6 p.m., Room 109 of the Noble University Center.

Ruskin is a composer and performer known for his skill on a variety of instruments from around the Middle East. He is co-founder of the Cornell Middle Eastern Music Ensemble in Ithaca, where he composes for film and video games and performs with bands Gadje and Souk: Middle Eastern Grooves.

Aegela has taught and performed since 1978. In addition, she has conducted classes for the hearing-impaired, and devised a format for use in occupational therapy rehabilitation programs assisting women in regaining range of motion. Recently, she developed a dance program for women recovering from strokes. Aegela owns and operates a dance center in Toledo, Ohio.

More: Arts Collaborative website