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News

Open Call for Submissions Nour Festival 2017

Nour Festival of Arts invites national and international artists and arts organisations, working across all art forms, to submit proposals for consideration for this year’s festival, which takes place from 19 October to 5 November 2017.

 

“Rapidly becoming the most significant festival of its kind in Europe.” Middle East Online

Now in its eighth year, Nour showcases a broad spectrum of arts and culture – including film, food, music, literature, poetry, performance, design and visual arts – and reaches a diverse audience of local, national and international visitors. Growing each year, Nour takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the regions of the Middle East and North Africa, their cultures and art forms.

 

Nour welcomes proposals from artists, creatives and cultural practitioners of these regions, their diaspora communities, and those whose work is inspired by the arts and culture of these regions. Nour prides itself on the high-quality, contemporary nature of the work it features. It offers audiences insights into the diverse make-up of the Middle East and North Africa today, challenging stereotypes of this region and its people through cultural expression. Above all, Nour looks to inspire, and be inspired by, these reflections, which have established this annual celebration as a crucial meeting point for East and West.

 

Please complete the online submission form here before the deadline of 09:00 GMT on Monday 27 March 2017. Feel free to get in touch, if you have any question about making your submission: nour@rbkc.gov.uk

  

Categories
News

Oud and Music Literacy Courses with Taqasim Music School

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The Arab British Centre is delighted to present

Oud and Music Literacy Courses

with Taqasim Music School

January – April 2016

Taqasim Music School launched in March 2011 with the objective of providing education on Middle Eastern music culture.

Under the direction of Iraqi Oud Master Ahmed Mukhtar, both theory and instrumental courses are taught by professional musicians on a regular basis. The aim is to provide affordable access to the music heritage of the Middle-East and promoting dialogue between music cultures.

Taqasim Music School represents a unique resource for organisations and individuals interested in researching the music cultures of the Middle-East.

Below is the list of courses being offered between January – April 2016.

Scroll down for further details on each course.

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23 January – 26 March 2016 | 10 weeks | 20 hours

Music Literacy for Beginners

Saturdays, 11:00 – 13:00

23 January – 2 April

Jan: 23, 30 | Feb: 6, 13, 20

Course Fee: £95

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***

23 January – 26 March 2016 | 10 weeks | 20 hours

Oud Beginners

Saturdays, 13:00 – 15:00

23 January – 2 April

Jan: 23, 30 | Feb: 6, 13, 20 | Mar: 5, 12, 19, 26 | Apr: 2

Course Fee: £190

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***

Oud Intermediate

Saturdays, 15:30 – 17:30

23 January – 2 April

Jan: 23, 30 | Feb: 6, 13, 20 | Mar: 5, 12, 19, 26 | Apr: 2

Course Fee: £190

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***

Oud Upper Intermediate

Saturdays, 17:45 – 19:45

23 January – 2 April

Jan: 23, 30 | Feb: 6, 13, 20 | Mar: 5, 12, 19, 26 | Apr: 2

Course Fee: £190

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***

Oud Beginners

The Oud is a short-necked fretless lute, the most important and wide-spread instrument in Middle-Eastern music.

The objective of the beginners course is to acquire the fundamental techniques needed to play the Oud and understand the characteristics of the Maqam music system, studying the eight fundamental Maqams together with traditional and popular repertoire.

No previous music knowledge is required to attend this course, as most music is notated as tablature, a visual representation which does not require understanding of music notation. However, we do encourage beginners to sign up to our Music Literacy for Beginners Course. (You can find the description below)

The course is made up of 10 lessons of 2 hours each, for a maximum group of 7 students.

Lessons are taught on a weekly basis and it is recommended that students spend time practising in between lessons. All course materials are provided in printed and digital format.

Students need to have their own instrument, and the teachers are available to assist in finding an Oud and in assessing instruments.

Music Literacy for Beginners

This course is highly recommended for students who want to take oud lessons for the first time but haven’t seriously studied music before.

Learning a new instrument is hard enough by itself: new ideas, new techniques, new pieces of music and lots and lots of practice! So let’s make things a little easier. In this short series (5 lessons) of classes you will learn all the basic skills you need to read, write and “talk” music. Taking a practical approach to music theory, we will be adapting the best bits from Western classical music theory and Arab classical music theory to give you all the tools you need to start your new life as a musician.

Topics for the course will include how to read and write rhythms; how to read and write melodies; understanding the basics of maqam theory and how to recognize maqams in notation; how to understand all the signs and symbols on a musical score.

NOTE:  We highly encourage students interested in this course to sign up also to the Oud Beginners course running straight after it on Saturdays from 13:00 – 15:00.

Oud Intermediate

Taqasim Music School offers a more advanced set of courses for groups of students who are interested in improving their Oud playing skills further.

In order to enrol for the intermediate courses, it is required to have attended an Oud beginners course, and have your own instrument. The teachers are available to assist in finding an Oud and in assessing instruments.

Students with existing knowledge may apply but will need to be assessed by a teacher: please contact us.

The level is more advanced than beginners, so students need to take into account time for daily practice and study.

The Oud intermediate course is made up of 10 lessons of 2 hours each, for a maximum group of 7 students.

Lessons are taught on a weekly basis and it is recommended that students spend time practising in between lessons. All course materials are provided in printed and digital format.

During the course, a selection of Maqams (Nahawand, Kurd, Lami, Bayat) will be analysed in detail, studying traditional repertoire to highlight the characteristics of each Maqam, accompanied by technical studies on right hand techniques, left-hand positions and 2 octave scales.

***

For more information, or to book a place please contact us on 0207 832 1310 orinfo@arabbritishcentre.org.uk

For FAQs on the music classes, please click here.

For general FAQs on our courses, please click here. 

WE ARE HOSTING AN OPEN DAY ON SATURDAY 16th JANUARY

IT IS FREE TO ATTEND – MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Categories
Events

Exhibition: ‘Parallel Orientalism’ by Fatima Abbadi

The Arab British Centre proudly presents ‘Parallel Orientalism’, a photographic exhibition by renowned artist Fatima Abbadi.

‘The work of Fatima Abbadi in her “Parallel Orientalism” locates itself right at the core of this complex issue of representing [the Orient], but Fatima’s artistic production skillfully and powerfully produces an image and imaginary of the Orient that speaks back to the stigmas without falling into, but rather taking distance, from the “orientalist” genre.

Fatima’s work of art is courageous and poetic. Her photography captures the nude and raw reality of the “Orient”, its daily life, its streets and activities, its women and men, old, young, rich, modern, traditional, poor, with a unique and gracious gaze that never essentialises or reifies its subjects or objects. Perhaps the magical touch of Fatima’s pictures lies in the fact that there are no ideological or apologetic messages in her art. Fatima’s camera seems like an affectionate eye, that watches moments of daily life as they unfold and flow, and renders them with simultaneous simplicity and intensity.

And yet, what is most persuasive is Fatima’s decision to display pictures of women and men, nature, spaces and places across cultures and countries. Gestures, expressions, activities seem to lose their geographical location and what we see is an harmonious sense of differences and similarities, the fluidity of the ordinary, an artistic and much needed display of a shared humanity. Most of all, in Fatima’s pictures we see the majestic beauty of ordinary gestures, spaces, places, faces and the poetics of daily life and of ordinary people in the Arab and Islamic world and beyond.’

This text, written by Ruba Salih, is an extract from ‘Orientalismi Paralleli’, Abbadi’s exhibition book which will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition.

 

16 Nov 2015|Press View |2:30-5:30 pm

17-27 Nov 2015|Public Viewing|10-5pm

 

On Monday 23 Nov the exhibition will be open from 2:30-5:30 pm

 

28 Nov-11 Dec 2015|By Appointment|10-5pm

 

FREE ENTRY

 

RSVP: info@arabbritishcentre.org.uk

 

For press information, please contact:

 

Rosa Pérez +44 (0)20 7832 1310 rosa@arabbritishcentre.org.uk

 

Fatima Abbadi (1978) is an Italian – Jordanian Palestinian freelance photographer raised in Abu Dhabi (U.A.E) and based in Italy since 1997.

Her passion for photography started when Fatima’s father gave her a camera at the age of 13. Eager to learn, she began reading manuals and studying photography books, rapidly developing a profound understanding of pictures, their meaning and the powerful message they carry.

In 2007 Fatima enrolled in a photography course at MIGNON Group in Italy and eventually became a member in 2009.

Abbadi uses an analogue camera in black and white for all her work. In addition to the exhibitions with MIGNON Group, Fatima Abbadi has had solo exhibitions around the world: “Portraits”, Padova (Italy), 2008 “Women Through My Lens” Amman (Jordan) 2011 under the patronage of the Italian Embassy, Rome (Cloister of Bramante) 2011, Padua (Gallery Samonà) 2012. “Orientalism: A reinterpretation” Asolo (Fantadia International Festival of Multivision) 2013. “Parallel Orientalism” 2014 Mestre (Candiani) and Abano Terme.

 

 

Categories
News

Arabic Language Courses

Arab British Centre are delighted to present the Arabic Language Courses September – November 2015!

14 September – 13 October:

Level 1 MSA | Level 2 MSA | Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 1

19 October – 17 November:

Level 2 MSA | Level 3 MSA | Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 2

5 week courses | 10 hours

 

The Arab British Centre Presents Arabic Language Courses for September – November 2015!

Our Arabic language classes are taught by Ibrahim Othman who has several years’ experience of teaching Arabic at a variety of levels, both in his native Syria and in the UK.

If you have any questions about which level is most suitable for you, or would like to sign up, feel free to drop us a line at info@arabbritishcentre.org.uk

When calling or emailing us about these courses, please make sure to indicate which dates/times you wish to join (if applicable).

Our courses all cost £140 each. Your place on the course will only be confirmed on receipt of the course fee in full.

Please also note that we have a list of FAQs which can be found here.

Below is the list of courses being offered between September – November 2015.

Scroll down for further details on each course.

14 September – 13 October |5 week courses| 10 hours

Level 1 MSA

13:00-14:00

Mondays & Tuesdays

14 September – 13 October | 5 weeks | 10 hours

Course Fee: £140

*****

Level 2 MSA

18:00 – 20:00

Mondays

14 September – 12 October | 5 weeks | 10 hours

Course Fee: £140

*****

Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 1

18:00 – 20:00

Tuesdays

15 September – 13 October | 5 weeks | 10 hours

Course Fee: £140

*****

19 October – 17 November | 5 week courses | 10 hours

Level 2 MSA

13:00 – 14:00

Mondays & Tuesdays

19 October – 17 November | 5 weeks | 10 hours

Course Fee: £140

*****

Level 3 MSA

18:00 – 20:00

Mondays

19 October – 16 November | 5 weeks | 10 hours

Course Fee: £140

*****

Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 2

18:00 – 20:00

Tuesdays

20 October – 17 November | 5 weeks | 10 hours

Course Fee: £140

*****

Level 1 MSA

This course is designed to give absolute beginners in Arabic a basic competence in reading, listening, speaking and writing skills in a dynamic and communicative way, to converse in basic everyday situations in Arabic and also to introduce the written form of the language.

Topics:

  • Your family, work, describing people and objects

  • Places and countries

  • Nationalities

  • Basic grammar, nouns, verbs, word order and numbers, starting to build up confidence in speaking Arabic

  • Background to Arab culture

Course entry and do I need any particular skills (who is it for)?

Suitable for complete beginners, also suitable for students who have attended a previous course in Arabic or have a basic knowledge of the language but who would like to start again from the beginning.

Level 2 MSA

The course is a progression from our Level 1 MSA course, designed for those with some previous experience of Arabic, who can recognise the Arabic alphabet and engage in basic conversation, but who lack a basic understanding of the grammar system. The course will consolidate the basics and cover descriptions, countries and people, nationalities, shopping, and using cultural expressions in a variety of contexts.

Topics:

  • The past tense and present tenses in Arabic (regular and weak verbs)

  • Possessives, comparison, numbers with counted noun

  • Family, relations and friends

  • Preferences/likes/dislikes and hobbies

  • Expand knowledge of Arabic vocabulary

  • Arabic texts containing high frequency lexis and basic structures

  • Write a short personal text or letter about familiar subjects

Course entry and do I need any particular skills (who is it for)?

This course is suitable to those who have finished our level 1 MSA course, but it’s also suitable for students who have attended a previous course in Arabic and are able to read and write basic Arabic sentences.

How will I be taught?

The course is based on the communicative approach:

  • Active students’ interaction

  • Emphasis on speaking and listening skills

  • Paired and group work

  • Role playing

  • Use of pictures and authentic material

  • Use of audio-visual techniques when appropriate

Level 3 MSA

The course is a progression from our Level 2 MSA course, designed for those who have some knowledge of Arabic and can read and write Arabic. The course will consolidate the basics and reinforce old vocabulary by covering grammar, numbers, colours, descriptions, dialects, countries and people, and the use of cultural expressions in a variety of contexts. It will also cover more advanced grammar topics such as the subjunctive.

Topics:

  • Day to day routine : Taking a taxi, exploring and using public transport

  • Visiting a city: This topic involves someone’s experience visiting a city and describing the visit.

  • Arab restaurants in London: describing Arabic food and Arabic culture

  • A trip to the Middle East:

  • Taking a taxi

  • Shopping in Cairo

  • Exploring new places

  • Asking for directions

Grammar:

  • Present tense

  • Past tense

  • Subjective phase 1

  • Adjectives

  • Broken plurals

Course entry and do I need any particular skills (who is it for)?

This course is suitable for those students who are able to read, write and make simple sentences in Arabic and understand the past tense at least.

How will I be taught?

The book that will be used for the course is Mastering Arabic 1 along with other resources such as:

  • Role play activities

  • Pair and group work

  • Use of poems, songs and pictures

  • Use of audio-visual techniques when appropriate

Levantine Spoken Arabic 1 (Dialect)

This is a Levantine Spoken Arabic course. The course is tailored to focus on speaking Arabic and it follows a communicative approach to language teaching.

Course entry and do I need any particular skills (who is it for)?

This course is aimed at students who have studied or know a little bit of Levantine Arabic (colloquial Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian, Palestinian Arabic) and is suitable for those who are absolute beginners too.

Topics:

  • Presentations, Introducing yourself, country of origin, etc

  • Daily conversations

  • Taking a taxi

  • Checking in a hotel

  • Eating out

  • Shopping

  • Asking for directions

  • Asking for help

Grammar: Subject pronouns, possessive pronouns, nouns (masculine, feminine) adjectives, past and present tense.

How will I be taught?

The course will be taught using English transliteration with an introduction to the Arabic writing system (Arabic alphabet) and you will be able to read short sentences and road signs.

The teacher will provide all the materials for the course. He will use “Ahla wa sahla” a functional course in spoken Arabic.

Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 2 (Dialect)

This course is a continuation of our Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 1 and develops all aspects of Arabic Language including speaking, pronunciation, listening, reading and writing. It’s suitable for those who have completed the Levantine Spoken Arabic Level 1 Course or who have prior/basic knowledge of Arabic. Students are expected to be able to understand and hold basic conversations in spoken Arabic.

This course will cover:

  • Speaking, pronunciation & listening – expressing opinions, covering more vocabulary on specific topics (below) starting from daily basis conversation and gradually become able to hold a more advanced conversation

  • Learning idiomatic phrases

  • More advanced grammar: present simple tense, present continues, the passive, the active participle, the subjunctive, faعlan adjectives form

  • Read and write Arabic script. Be able to read short sentences, road and transport signs

Topics:

  • Conversation: we’re very hungry p.127

  • Function A: Counting things

  • Function B: Ordering at a restaurant, hotel

  • Function C&E: Expressing feelings and people

  • Functions B to E/Ch:5: Going out and shopping (food and clothes)

Teaching Method:

  • Interactive speaking method (communicative approach)

  • Grammar based

  • Translation and equivalence

  • Lessons will be supported with audio-visual materials when appropriate

What is required from participants?

  • Flashcards (to be used every session)

  • 3 coloured pens

  • 2 notebooks