Dance, art, archeology at Arab Festival

By John Austen

Wajih Nahl
 

Concordia will be the venue for some of the 60 events making up the fifth edition of the Festival du Monde Arabe, which starts today and continues to Nov. 14.

There will be a panel discussion today in H-767, until 6 p.m., under the title Quebec and the Arab World: Protecting Cultural Diversity in a Globalized World.

An art exhibition is in the J.W. McConnell Building atrium throughout the festival, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., called Couleurs extrêmes / Extreme colours.

The exhibitors include some of the best-known artists in Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Syria. Each artist has donated an original canvas, inspired by the theme of this year's festival, Razzia, which means raid.

A monologue called Fatma will be presented on Nov. 5 at DeSève Cinema by Mohamed Benguettaf, co-founder of the Algerian theatre company Masrah El Kalâa. The performance is free, and starts at 6 p.m.

Also at the DeSève, on Nov. 7, two short films will be shown under the title Violence, gesture and liberty. Both are about the Moroccan dancer, choreographer and director Lahcen Zinoun, who will speak after the films. This event is also free, and starts at 6 p.m.

Solo or Solo is the name of a play by Libyan playwright Hicham Jaber, who is also an actor and director. It's described as a revealing look at the devastation, violence, and solitude caused by war. It takes place on Nov. 11 in the D.B. Clarke Theatre, starting at 6 p.m., Tickets are $15. For reservations, call 790-1245.

A presentation on archeology in Saudi Arabia will take place Nov. 11 in Room 763 of the Hall Building, Room 763, starting at 6 p.m. It is free. The presentation, in English, will be made by Ali Bin Ibrahim Ghabaan, a professor in the Department of Archeology and Museums at the University of King Saoud.

On Nov. 13, in the DeSève Cinema, excerpts will be shown of a film called Art, Remains and Revival, directed by Ali Maasarani. It documents the work of sculptor Younès A. Tahiri, who uses organic materials for his creations. It starts at 6 p.m., and is free.