Performances
Arabic Rhythm and Dance Demo
September 23, 2019 7 PM
Concordia University, River Forest
Kretzmann Hall, Music Room
Teaming up with percussionists Donald Skoog and Nick White for a lecture/presentation on Arabic dance and rhythms. Open to the public!
Arabic Music opening for author Wendy Pearlman
September 22, 2019 2:30 PM
St. Luke's Church, Evanston
Author and Professor at Northwestern University Wendy Pearlman will be reading from her latest work, "We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled", a work documenting the experiences of Syrian refugees via oral histories. Phaedra, Nedal Hamdan and Marwan Kamel will open the event with Arabic music from the Syrian tradition.
Dreams from Cairo Bellydance Intensive
September 6 - 9, 2019
The Majestic Theatre, Las Vegas
Join Phaedra for a weekend of great shows and intense education. She will be teaching along with International Superstar instructors Camelia of Cairo, Virginia Mendez of Miami, and Roxane Shelaby of California. Saturday night's showcase will feature the instructors and other guest performers. Event produced by Leyla Amir.
Click HERE for more details and to register.
Chicago SummerDance: Dance Village 2019
Saturday, August 24th, 1-6 PM
Wrigley Square, corner of Michigan Ave. and Randolph
Chicago Dance Village presents mini classes and performances ALL DAY at Wrigley Square, located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street in Chicago. Phaedra will have a mini-performance and belly dance lesson for the public at 3 PM. ALL performance and classes are FREE! Please bring the family and join us to see some of the best dance companies in the city!
Event details HERE.
Raqs Hafla: A MidEast Dance Party
June 13th @ 6 PM
Green Briar Park Fieldhouse
2650 W. Peterson, Chicago
Join Phaedra Darwish and guest performers for a Middle Eastern dance showcase, ending in a dance party for all! FREE to all families, neighbors, and friends of the Parks. Presented by the Mayor's Night Out in the Parks program in conjunction with Chicago Park Districts.
Chicago Park District link HERE
Facebook Event HERE
Raqs Hafla: A MidEast Dance Party
July 26th at 6 PM
Columbus Park
500 S. Central, Chicago
Join Phaedra Darwish and guest performers for a Middle Eastern dance showcase, ending in a dance party for all! FREE to all families, neighbors, and friends of the Parks. Presented by the Mayor's Night Out in the Parks program in conjunction with the Chicago Park District.
Chicago Park District link HERE
Facebook Event link HERE
Raqs Hafla: A MidEast Dance Party
July 27th at noon
Graver Park
1518 W. 102nd Pl., Chicago
Join Phaedra Darwish and guest performers for a Middle Eastern dance showcase, ending in a dance party for all! FREE to all families, neighbors, and friends of the Parks. Presented by the Mayor's Night Out in the Parks program in conjunction with Chicago Park District.
Chicago Park District event link HERE.
Facebook event HERE.
Ensemble al-Wadi at Skokie Cultural Fest
May 18th
4701 Oakton, Skokie - Inside Stage
2:25 - 2:50 PM
Phaedra sings and dances to traditional Arabic music with her group, Ensemble al-Wadi of Chicago.
More info HERE.
Where Rivers Meet: Songs and Stories from Masters of Arabic Music
April 28th, 2019
Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center
2PM - FREE
Where Rivers Meet is a show of traditional Arabic music interwoven with personal stories of Middle Eastern immigrant musicians. String ensemble and storyteller accompany master musicians who share melodies and memories passed down in song and story.
Along the banks of a river, people wash clothes, sing songs, and tell stories. Fabrics, spices and melodies are carried downstream, and villages are woven together by the current. The Shatt Al-Arab, the Nile, and the Jordan converge at Lake Michigan as Chicago Folklore Ensembles explores the music and stories of master musicians from Iraq, Egypt, and Palestine.
Tribal Stomp: Return of the Goddess
February 2, 2019
The Mankind Project, Chicago
7-11 PM
Phaedra comes back as the headliner once again in this night of dance, rhythm, and community. She will be singing half the set, and dancing the other. More bellydance performances from talented local artists and drum circles as well as variety booths and food vendors throughout the evening.
Tickets and information HERE
Invisibly Visible: A New Installation by Farah Salem
November 15, 2018
SITE Galleries - School of the Art Institute Chicago
4:30 - 7 PM
Kuwaiti artist Farah Salem opens her latest exhibit which explores the abaya as a subject of controversy as well as a social construct. The Zaytunes (Phaedra - vocals and flute; Khaled Shalash - oud and violin; Liz Reyes - tabla) will open with an hour long concert of Arabic music.
Great Lakes Bellydance Convention
November 9-11, 2018
East Lansing Michigan
Phaedra teaches and performs at the annual Great Lakes Bellydance Convention.
Details and registration HERE.
Nobody Sleeps Corpse Cabaret - For the Love of Chocolate fundraiser
Saturday Oct. 27, 2018 - 7 PM
Parkway Ballroom, Chicago
4455 S. King Drive
A costume ball for a great cause! Your ticket includes dinner, drinks, and entertainment. For the Love of Chocolate is a foundation based in Chicago which helps student with their tuition for school. More information HERE
Surabhi Ensemble Global Peace Tour fundraiser
October 15, 2018 - 7:30 PM
City Winery, Chicago
Surabhi Ensemble blends music and dance traditions from Spain, India, and the Middle East. This special concert will raise funds for their world tour, starting in January 2019. Join the ensemble and special guest artists from Chicago and beyond, including Massamba Diop, master of the "talking drum" featured on the Black Panther movie soundtrack.
Tickets available HERE.
Miami Rakstar Festival
October 5, 2018 - 8 PM
Royal Palm Hotel, Miami
Phaedra performs in the Opening Gala show to kick off the 2018 Rakstar Oriental Dance Festival. Over 20 countries will be represented by participants at this convention.
Oum Kulthoum Lecture and Show
August 26, 2018
The Cell
23rd St., NYC
Phaedra teaches, lectures, and performs at this day of dance dedicated to the legendary voice of the Arab world, Oum Kulthoum. Hosted by Jaida Chandler. Workshops during the day, lecture 5-6 PM, Show at 6 PM featuring live music from some of New York City's finest Arabic music performers.
Detroit City Dance Festival
Saturday, August 11, 2 PM
Detroit Institute of the Arts
Phaedra performs as part of this Detroit Dance City Festival, a weekend-long international dance festival.
Open to the public.
More information HERE.
Heart of America Belly Dance Festival Gala
August 4, 2018 - 8PM
Camelot Ballroom - 6635 West 151st Street
Overland Park, Kansas
Gala show at the Camelot Ballroom, open to the public, featuring the star teachers of the dance intensive weekend as well as workshop participants. Red carpet, dinner, and belly dance show.
Tix HERE
Art Institute of Chicago Block Party
July 21, 2018 - 3PM
Museum of the Art Institute
Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is throwing it's first annual block party! The public is invited to explore every corner of the museum, which will come to life with music, dance, and performances of all kinds.
U of C MEME 20th Anniversary Arab Concert
Sunday, May 27th, 6 PM
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago Middle East Music Ensemble presents its 20th Anniversary Arab Concert.
Concert is FREE and open to the public.
Details HERE.
Self-Care Fair
Sunday, May 20, 4:30 - 5 PM
Damen and Leavitt - Pilsen, Chicago
Phaedra performs and teaches a FREE workshop at this all-day community event.
A Conversation on Censorship at SAIC
Monday, May 7, 5 PM
Monroe and Wabash
School of the Art Institute
Phaedra sings and plays flute with the Arabic combo "The Zaytunes" to open up this special evening of esteemed panelists talking about censorship on campuses and in the media. Presented by the Students for Justice in Palestine.
Where Rivers Meet: Songs and Stories from Masters of Arabic Music
Saturday, April 28, 1:30 PM
Wine Recital Hall, Manchester University
Chicago Folklore Ensemble and Crossing Borders Music present tales and music of the ensemble members' journey from their homeland in the Middle East to the United States via storytelling, dance, music, and song.
Performance is FREE and open to the public.
Where Rivers Meet: Songs and Stories from Master of Arabic Music
April 22nd, 2 PM
Oak Lawn Public Library
Chicago Folklore Ensemble and Crossing Borders Music present tales and music of the ensemble members' journey from their homeland in the Middle East to the United States via storytelling, dance, music, and song.
Performance is FREE and open to the public.
THAW 2018
Saturday, March 31 4-11 PM
Links Hall and Constellation
3111 N. Western, Chicago
The hottest art party of the year! THAW is Links Hall's annual benefit party, a night which unites and highlights dancers, performers, and musicians from all over Chicago. Belly dance performance at 7PM in Links Hall, Studio A.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Weekend Dance Intensive and Show at UW-Madison
World Music Wednesday with Salaam-Shalom Music Project
World Music Wednesday with Salaam-Shalom Music Project
Wednesday, March 21 2018, 8:30 PM
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Phaedra dances and sings with Salaam-Shalom Music Project, which includes repertoire from both the Jewish and Arabic traditions.
Reserve your tickets HERE.
Andalusian Trail: Surabhi Ensemble, presented by the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
Saturday, March 10, 6:30 PM
Canterbury School, 3210 Smith Road
Fort Wayne, IN
Surabhi Ensemble performs music and dance from the shared cultural history of medieval Andalusia from the Indian, Middle Eastern, and North African civilizations. Presented by the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace.
Holi Festival: Surabhi Ensemble at Navy Pier
March 4, 2018 at 2PM
Navy Pier, Chicago
Dance performance with Surabhi Ensemble, Chicago's musical and dancing group displaying a cultural blend of Arabic, Indian, and Spanish traditions.
Al Layla al Arabiyah at DePaul University
Wednesday, February 21st, 5 - 10 PM
Courtelyou Commons, DePaul University
2324 N. Fremont, Chicago
DePaul Arabic Language and Culture Club puts on their annual event, "Al Layla al Arabiyah", a celebration of Arab culture. Food, poetry, a debkah troupe performance, along with a belly dance performance by Phaedra (6:30). Open to all Chicagoland college students and DePaul alumni.
Where Rivers Meet: Stories and Songs from Masters of Arabic Music
December 10 and 18, 2017 at 3 PM
Evanston Public Library
Chicago Folklore Ensemble and Crossing Borders Music present tales and music of the ensemble members' journey from their homeland in the Middle East to the United States via storytelling, dance, music, and song.
Performance is FREE and open to the public.
More information HERE.
Salaam-Shalom Music Project
Saturday, November 18, 7:30 PM
303 Dodge Street, Evanston
Songs and dance from Arabic and Jewish traditions
Performance is FREE to the public. Reservations encouraged.
Register HERE.
Surabhi Ensemble
April 30, 2017 - 4 PM
Elston Performing Arts Center
Michigan City, Indiana
Concert benefiting Syrian refugees
Tickets available HERE
Mother of Smoke
March 23 - April 14, 2017
Pride Arts Center, Chicago
Redtape Theater and Walkabout Theatre co-present this world premier play
Tickets HERE
THAWALLS
March 8, 2017 - 6PM
Navy Pier Chicago
Links Hall, Constellation, and Threewalls collaborate to present this multidisciplinary night of entertainment.
Tickets and information available HERE.
Winter Tribal Stomp 2017
February 4, 2017 - 6 - 11 PM
The Mankind Project
1900 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
Phaedra headlines Winter Tribal Stomp 2017 with musician Dusko Merakljija (tabla, mizmar, nay)
Tickets HERE
Performance at Elmhurst College
January 27, 2017 at 7 PM
Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel
Elmhurst College
Vintage Belly Dance performance