Events


Arts at St. Johns  & 

HacLogo

present the
Habibi ThinkTank & Orchestra

Sunday July 30th 7pm
Arts at St.Johns
4760 Pinetree Drive 
 - Miami Beach   

 A FREE dance and music installation performance,
 featuringHarmonic Motion
(Joe Zeytoonian & Myriam Eli)
Mecca aka Grimo
Juan Turros
Aireen
Tiffany "hanan" Madera


Orchestra

The Habibi ThinkTank -- a community arts activism projectwith panel discussions, lecture/demonstrations, artistic residency & performance . . . to raise political consciousness & empowerment of marginalized peoples 

Since 2002, the Habibi ThinkTank has evolved in 2 evening length Hip Hop Bellydance Theatre performances; Habibi and Habibi REMIX. The project also included an 18 month artistic residency at the Dominican American National Foundation in Allapattah serving adjudicated and underserved teens and children. The residency featured Habibi artists such as Mecca aka Grimo and Habibi Remix turntablist DJ Mr. Cisum. In addition to cast members, HAC members from NYC also gave filmmaking and political education workshops including Marinieves Alba (IHX & Zol-Lab) and Joshua Bee Alafia of Beeloved Creations. A Habibi ThinkTank panel last fall featured award winning playwright Teo Castellanos, Marinieves Alba, Joshua Bee Alafia and Tiffany "hanan" Madera.

The Habibi Orchestra is the 3rd performance installation of the Habibi ThinkTank. Featuring local gems of international acclaim, this ensemble aims to bridge geographic and psychological barriers of alienation, oppression and marginalization through the peacemaking power of collaboration. Under the creative direction of Tiffany "hanan" Madera the music was co-created by the musicians in a workshop format to address themes of shared experience. What emerged was an understanding that all participants had in their background "Persecution", "Exile" and "Miami"; thus the three pieces of the new show. The participants share musical stories of their Jewish, Armenian, Haitian and Cuban lineage while preserving the cutting edge hip hop and Middle Eastern roots of the Habibi trademark.

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This performance is in loving memory of our dear friend and teacher, Dumbek Master FATHI.

THIS PERFORMANCE IS FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

  Info: 305-613-2325 or artsatstjohns@bellsouth.net

Arts at St. Johns, St. John's Church, 4760 Pinetree Dr, Miami Beach. Free on-site parking. (click here for map)www.artsatstjohns.com       

This project is partially funded through a Community Grant from Miami-Dade Dept. of Cultural Affairs

info

UAN TURROS. Saxophone. Born and raised in Miami, Juan Turros has been a part of South Florida music scene since graduating from Miami Sr. High in 1991. Since then he has performed or recorded with Tropica Salsa artists WILLY CHIRINO, CELIA CRUZ, ROLANDO LASERIE, HANSEL Y RAUL, LA INDIA, GILBERTO SANTA ROSA, JOSE FELICIANO, AND HUEY DUNBAR OF DLG. He has also worked with a number of jazz and pop artists including DAVID LEE ROTH, KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND, MAYNARD FERGUSON, ARTURO SANDOVAL, JOHN FADDIS, JIM PUGH, NESTOR TORRES, THE FOUR FRESHMEN, THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER and DIANE SCHUUR. Juan earned his BA degree from Florida International University under the tutelage of Gary Campbell and his MA from the University of Illinois under the tutelage of Chip McNeill. Juan is currently performing with Afro-Funk band SUENALO and jazz group FOR IF THE FLIES.  WEBSITE: foriftheflies.com  MYSPACE: myspace.com/foriftheflies

JOE ZEYTOONIAN of Harmonic Motion is an udist, singer, percussionist, and composer who has received various grants and honorable mentions from the Florida Department of State, Broward County FL, and the National Endowment for the Arts, in addition to the 2000 Florida Folk Heritage Award from the Division of Historical Resources. He has recorded various albums including Southern Arrival, Full Circle, Danse Orientale Project, Café Makam, Whispers of Ellis Island, Ruby Mantra, and Line Out. He has also recorded with Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Jon Secada, Ana Gabriel, Azucar Morena, and Abbey Rader. He has played with Dave Liebman, Kenny Millions, Satoshi Takeishi, Arto Tunçboyaciyan, O. Faruk Tekbilek, Bobby Thomas Jr., and Taksim Band from New York City. He is co-director with Myriam Eli of Harmonic Motion Middle Eastern Music and Dance Theater in South Florida (www.harmonicmotion.com) with whom he has toured the United States, Turkey, Japan, and Latin America. His television appearances include Saturday Night Live and CNN Turk. Additionally, he teaches Middle Eastern ud and scale theory, singing, and percussion.

MYRIAM ELI of Harmonic Motion performs traditional Middle Eastern, cross-cultural, and improvisational dance, and plays a variety of Middle Eastern hand drums and percussion instruments. She participated in the Middle Eastern dance companies of New York’s Serena, Morocco, and Anahid Sofian. She is co-director with Joe Zeytoonian of Harmonic Motion Middle Eastern Music and Dance Theater in South Florida (www.harmonicmotion.com), with whom she has toured the United States, Turkey, Japan, and Latin America as well as recorded several compact discs. She has received awards from the New York based American Academy of Middle Eastern Dance and Florida’s Broward County. The Florida Department of State has awarded her a Fellowship Grant, an Artist Enhancement Grant, and selected her as a Master Teacher of Middle Eastern dance for the Folklife Apprenticeship Program. For seven years she taught Middle Eastern dance and drum to, choreographed for, recorded and toured with pop rock singer Shakira. Ms. Eli played percussion and her choreography was featured on television in the following: MTV, Saturday Night Live, Latin Grammy, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, and The Rosie O’Donnell Show. As a flamenco performer, she has studied with Jose Molina, Maria Alba, Manolete, Matilde Coral, Manolo Marin, Ilisa Rosal, Helena Alonso, and Damaris Ferrer. She recently performed a duo in concert with Manolete.  www.harmonicmotion.com

MECCA aka GRIMO. Transforming the Spoken Word scene with his mix of the Creole language Mecca aka Grimo has been publicized as the phenomenon of The Spoken Word / Hip-Hop Creole movement. Mecca aka Grimo tours with the Haitian Heritage Museum in a presentation called "Ayiti Expose". This presentation is exhibited in schools to educate other nationalities and our own about how rich the Haitian culture is and its contributions to the world. In addition, Mecca aka Grimo is currently on tour with "The Live Poets Society" promoting his freshman Spoken Word / Poetry co  "PHARAOH 2 THUG" and a Hip Hop Creole Mix cd  "KREYOL KONNEKSYON”. In (2005) Mecca aka Grimo traveled to Haiti with The Miami Film Group to complete a movie titled "KIDNAPPINGS". The movie depicts the issues of kidnappings happening in Haiti. The delicate topic also touches on other prevalent issues tarnishing Haiti's image and tourism.  Mecca aka Grimo is of Haitian descent. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., raised in Queens, N.Y. and now resides in Miami, Florida. For additional information check the official website at: www.MECCAakaGRIMO.com www.myspace.com / meccaakagrimo  www.FePouLi.org  www.KIDNAPPINGS.org


HAC Bizarre BAZAAR postponed for Friday NOVEMBER 11th 2005
due to Hurricane Wilma

HANAN ARTS COOPERATIVE

INVITES YOU TO
DEBUT FUN(d) + CONSCIOUSNESS RAISER
FOR INNER CITY ARTS PROGRAMS

SAT., OCT. 22, 2005
8 PM - Midnight

DEBUTANTE BALL FUNDRAISER
the BIZARRE BAZAAR

a coming-out, indoor-outdoor garden party
for HAC'S 2005-2006 Season of Inner City Arts Programs
and for the HAC 2006-2007 Season

Tickets: $30, with food, drinks and entertainment

Including a silent auction of rare art and luxury items, as well as exciting raffle prizes

Where: THE MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDENS
2100 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE
MIAMI BEACH

Hanan Arts Cooperative ( HAC) is a non-profit organization comprised of multidisciplinary artists, musicians, dancers, hip-hop artists, community leaders and activists -- with the shared mission of increasing community empowerment through the therapeutic and educational power of performing arts. ( see below for details)

Confirmed artists to perform:
DJ Snowhite
Mideastern Dance Exchange Performing Company
ALVA Haitian Dance Company
TAKADA West African Women’s Drum Ensemble
Performance Artist Lucky Bruno
Lady of Harp in Homage to Victims of Katrina
MECCA aka GRIMO
Middle Eastern Dance soloists Aireen & Portia
Haitian Dance by Mano Merisier

Artist installations by: Jean Villamizar, Ritartista and Haitian artist Isabelle Debrosse

Also Featuring: The FEMINIST KISSING BOOTH: You have to show up to find out what this is! Hint: Feminists like kissing... a lot! >>>> Also it takes place inside a Hummer. So - Take your shot!

Auction Items include rare art pieces by local legend artist/punk rock icon TOMATA DU PLENTY,

restaurant and spa certificates , music cds, and many more items!


FACTS ABOUT HAC:

HAC currently runs an arts-intervention program for multiple-offender youth in Allapattah and the "Dance Empowerment Project " which is a program originally designed to empower women with a background as victims of abuse. This program, now in its 4th year, goes to women’s prisons, battered women’s shelters, churches, and universities throughout Dade County. Starting in January, the DEP will commence a 1 year residency at a local Battered Womens Shelter with a brand new Empowerment curriculum for Mothers & Daughters.

HAC is also responsible for HABIBI, the theatre/film project, a political/social activist approach to arts and culture using hip hop and bellydance.

Most exciting of all, HAC has initiated a humanitarian cultural project in Cuba to bring performing arts programs to young women in Havana. From this project, the unprecedented and historical Middle Eastern Dance Troupe "Grupo Aisha Al-Hanan" was born.

Additionally, HAC is developing and seeking funding and infrastructure for a Little Haiti Women’s Dance Empowerment Project with a sister project in Port Au Prince that mirrors the Bellydance Cuba Project .

HAC MISSION STATEMENT: HAC's mission is to create education through the arts, cultural programming and performances that uplift the human spirit and empower marginalized and oppressed populations both locally and abroad. All programs are created with the intention of increasing self-empowerment, raising social and spiritual consciousness, political awareness and cultural understanding."

HAC derived from the vision of revolutionary Middle Eastern Dance artist Tiffany "Hanan" Madera. The organization was created to universalize a movement to reach wider audiences and educate, unite and empower marginalized populations through arts programs and performance.

HAC believes in equality, empowerment and using love and spirituality to uplift communities and humanity. HAC works from the philosophy that change starts at the individual unit and moves outward towards the universal activist consciousness.

HAC uses arts education, arts activism and performance to highlight cultures and embrace diversity.

As Executive Director Tiffany Madera says, “Everyone has the capacity to rise to the occasion of generosity of spirit, unity consciousness and transformation.”

HAC is a non-profit organization working under the auspices of the Arts at St Johns (a 501 (c ) 3 organization). 100% of funds go directly to fund the arts programs.

For more information, please contact Helen Clarke 786 399 9253


FRIDAY JUNE 10, 8-11 pm
April 8, Friday, 8-11 pm

"Bellydancing under a Red Moon"

a special cabaret to celebrate the feminine

with Harmonic Motion, hanan and guest artists



Middle Eastern bellydancing originated as a women's form of dance, by the women, for the women, performed in the women's tents, as a preparation and celebration of the feminine and of women as child bearers. The dancing was informal, happy, and full of women's comradery. Middle-Eastern dancer HANAN, Harmonic Motion artists Joe Zeytoonian and Myriam Eli; and the Arts at St. Johns seek to create a similar atmosphere in the intimate lakeside setting of the St. John's patio on Surprise Lake.

In ancient cultures and mythology, the rising of the Red Moon was viewed as a kind of cosmic cycle of the feminine moon. In recent years, some women in Israel/Palestine have presented Red Moon workshops as the antithesis of political chaos and as a communal bonding in the ancient Mother in the Middle East.

Rain or shine ** Free on-site parking
Light refreshments available – or bring a picnic basket

Donation: $15 ($12 students & seniors or online)

http://www.stjohnsmiamibeach.com/arts
At the St. John's Church- 4760 Pinetree Dr, Miami Beach

(click here for map)
Free on-site parking

305-613-2325 - artsatstjohns@bellsouth.net


Sunday May 1st, Hanan with Bellymotions at UVA Restaurant check www.bellymotions.com

Hanan at 3rd annual Womens Festival 4.23.2005 check www.artsatstjohns.com

Hanan at Vanessa Baez Memorial Brunch 4.24.2005 hosted by Amy Baez

Hanan as "ANACAONA"; featured in Dr. Sandra Riley's play and film of the Taino Indians, "Paradise Now" April 1-3, 2005


2004


FRIDAY OCT 15th
hanan performs with the EGYPTIAN LOVER at I/O Lounge
30 NE 14st Street Downtown Miami
details 305 358. 8007
iolounge.com


SATURDAY OCT 16
BELLYDANCE CUBA BENEFIT PARTY hosted by Chris Pena
621 W 51 Street
Miami Beach, Fl 33140
RSVP required to 305 801.0080 or cp621@bellsouth.net

performances by AIREEN and the Exquisite Dancers,Crystal Sawyer, Lucky,
Heloisa
featuring a world premeiere screening of JOHN MAASS' trailer for the documentary "BELLYDANCE BLOCKADE" of hanan's project in CUBA.




OCTOBER 22-24
featuring DALIA CARELLA and DANCERS from NYC!

FRI OCT 22
performance at ST. JOHNS 8pm 4760 PINETREE DRIVE

SAT OCT 23
11-5pm WOrkshops with DALIA CARELLA at ALL SOULS EPISCOPAL, 41st
and PINETREE MBEACH

SUN OCT 24
2-4pm ADVANCED MASTER CLASS with DALIA at MIAMI CONTEMPORARY
DANCE CO> 1919 Purdy AVE. MBEACH
www.artsatstjohns.com/arts



WORLD PREMIERE of the HABIBI REMIX

FRIDAY and SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12 and 13th
ARTS at St. Johns 4760 Pinetree Drive
8pm sharp