The Walton Arts Center’s 10x10 Arts Series will have all the things patrons expect in 2012-13 — classical music, drama, world music and dance — but this year, there will also be something completely different.
In the season listing for Oct. 18, it’s called Caravanserai: Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble with Brahim Fribgane, but that performance is just the tip of a greater iceberg.
The Walton Arts Center, in cooperation with the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas, was selected as one of four hosts in the United States for the second season of Caravanserai, a word that evokes the safe havens in the Far East where caravans could stop for food, news and companionship. The Caravanserai program, managed by Arts Midwest, is intended to introduce American audiences to the diversity of contemporary Muslim artistic expression.
This year’s focus will be on Morocco, where Majid Bekkas is considered one of the greatest gnawa musicians of his time. Joining him for the October program will be Moroccan-American oud master Brahim Fribgane. There will also be residencies featuring the Fez Orchestra and award-winning Moroccan filmmaker Hakim Belabbes.
“Walton Arts Center is proud to be a part of a program that promotes cultural understanding between American and Muslim societies,” says Jenni Taylor-Swain, vice president of programming at WAC. “Caravanserai's emphasis on providing contextual information and opportunities to explore art forms outside of the concert hall makes the project perfectly suited for our 10x10 Art Series.”
The “Perfect 10” package — 10 shows for $90 — is on sale now at 443-5600 or waltonartscenter. org. Also included are:
Sept. 20 — Plena Libre: This Puerto Rico-based ensemble of virtuoso musicians has four recent Grammy nominations and a worldwide touring schedule.
Oct. 18 — Caravanserai: Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble with Brahim Fribgane.
Oct. 19 — Tokyo String Quartet: Regarded as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world, the Tokyo Quartet has collaborated with an array of artists and composers and built a catalogue of critically acclaimed recordings.
Oct. 26 — L.A. Theatre Works’ “Pride and Prejudice”: Published in 1813, this marks the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's “Pride and Prejudice,” one of the most acclaimed and still strikingly modern works of world literature.
Nov. 15 — Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul: Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.
Nov. 29 — Cantus and Theater Latté Da present “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914”: Through new arrangements of European carols and war-songs for a capella voices, “All Is Calm” recalls the remarkable World War I truce between Allied Forces and German soldiers in no man's land on Christmas 1914.
Jan. 25 — Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: Through daring, athletic movement and integration of ballet into contemporary and popular forms, the dancers of Cedar Lake take audiences on a choreographic journey that explores the infi nite possibilities of movement and multimedia.
March 1 — DanceBrazil: Whether in the streets or on stage, the dancers and musicians of DanceBrazil never fail to enthrall audiences with the company's unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian movement, contemporary dance and Capoeira, the traditional dance/ martial arts form that had its origins in Africa and evolved in colonial Brazil as a means of fi ghting enslavement.
March 30 — Circa: Circa is Australia's most innovative circus and “61 Circus Acts in 60 Minutes” is its all-time favorite family show. Set to upbeat music and featuring four multiskilled performers, this is circus without the boring bits. Fast, furious fun for everyone!
June 21, 2013 — Artosphere Festival Orchestra: The Artosphere Festival Orchestra returns with familiar and new faces for a third year on the 10x10 Arts Series.
Whats Up, Pages 10 on 06/22/2012