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Iranian
drama and arts from the rest of the Muslim World feature at
the festival this year
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You
know it’s summer in New York by a few simple things. Central Park
is beset with bikers, joggers, skaters and combinations of the
three, every weekend some section of the city is closed due to a
rambunctious street fair, and the Lincoln Center Festival debuts as
the peak cultural event of the season.
This
year the festival, which features numerous performances of dance,
music, theater, opera and circus, turns its international scope on
Iran and the Middle East in yet another cultural olive branch
extended to the Arab and Muslim communities. But in an ironic turn
of events, festival programmers learned a month ago that 10 members
of a 28-person Iranian troupe who are performing the epic Persian
drama, “Ta'ziyeh”, were denied visas.
Immigration
officials wouldn’t give a reason for the denials, but the Lincoln
Center and Iranian troupe are moving on with the show anyway.
“Ta’ziyeh”
tells the story of the Battle of Kerbala in A.D. 680 where Imam
Hussain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad (saaws), met his death. With
more than 200 versions, the 18th-century work has deep
meaning for Iranians who are mostly Shiite Muslims that specially
revere Imam Hussain. The Ta’ziyeh, or mourning, is usually
performed once a year in Iran.
For
most Muslim Americans, the Ta’ziyeh is a virtually unknown piece
of work, though it is considered one of the greatest theatrical
performances by drama critics. Live-action portrayals of key figures
of early Islamic history, is highly discouraged in the Islam faith.
It is ironic then, that a drama for and about Muslims will be missed
by most of New York’s substantial Muslim population. In artistic
circles though, this drama is in an elite echelon for its
multi-layered symbolic performances and ability to draw the audience
into the feeling of the story.
“In
the Ta’ziyeh, there is no division between the spectators and the
actors,” said Peter Chelkowski, a professor of Middle Eastern
Studies at New York University and author of numerous books on
Iranian culture and the Ta’ziyeh. “The audience members become
participants in the performance. … It is spontaneous,” he told
the New York Times.
Nigel
Redden, director of the Lincoln Center Festival, said it was high
time to bring the “Ta’ziyeh” to an American audience, along
with other Middle Eastern cultural events. Though the decision to
focus on the Middle East in this year’s festival was made
pre-September 11th, the tragic events of that day added a
sense of urgency to the performances, he noted.
“I
do feel very, very strongly that we are richer for knowing about
other people and other cultures,” Redden said in a recent
interview. “[When] we don’t speak the same language, one of the
best ways [to build bridges] is to see works of art that move them,
and that maybe can move us.”
Though
the “Ta’ziyeh”, which is the crown jewel of the festival,
isn’t quite conducive for Muslims who do not wish to see Imam
Hussain portrayed by an actor on stage, other performances promise
to bring light to rarely seen parts of Middle Eastern artistic
culture.
Once
such performance is a series of concerts by North African and Middle
Eastern singers titled “Maghreb-Mashreq: East-West Alchemy”. It
combines traditional and pop song styles to highlight cultural and
religious traditions of that area.
Many
famous Muslim musicians are on tap to perform in these concerts,
including Marwan Abado (oud, vocals); Muhammad Abu Ajaj (oud);
Bachir Attar (rhaita, flute, guimbri); Musa Al Hajuj (vocals);
Sultan Abu Takfa (sumsumiya); and Zafer Tawill (q'anun, violin,
percussion). “Maghreb-Mashreq” will be performed in four
concerts from July 16-20 at La Guardia Concert Hall in New York.
Another
Iranian show at the festival is “Logic of the Birds”, a
multimedia performance that draws inspiration from a 12th-century
Persian poet. Four Iranian artists, including famous filmmaker
Shirin Neshat, will perform this show.
The
festival will run until July 28th and promises to feature
the best in Middle Eastern, American and world culture. It is an
exciting chance for Muslim New Yorkers to grasp a feel for an
artistic ambiance that reaches beyond present shadows to celebrate
the love of religion and life.
For
more information visit www.lincolncenter.org.
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