On Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, the Asian Dance and Music Program presents Illuminations from the Middle East, a series of events exploring Arabic calligraphy and Middle Eastern music and dance.

On Friday, March 9, Professor Khalil Barhoum, scholar of Near Eastern studies at Stanford University, presents an interactive lecture-workshop on the development of Arabic Calligraphy, highlighting the belief that "Arabic calligraphy is a spiritual geometry, performed with a physical instrument." This fascinating lecture will enthrall those interested in art, Middle Eastern culture, Islam, calligraphy and linguistics.

Then, as the Asian Dance and Music Program continues to trace pathways of shared history and culture amongst the people from the Asian Diaspora, Illuminations will conclude with a performance of Middle Eastern music and dance. Much like calligraphy, music requires no linguistic background and stipulates no artistic skill to be appreciated. On Saturday, March 10, western Massachusetts-based Anatolia performs. Using ancient musical instruments, Anatolia brings together Turkish and Arabic traditions in their music, recreating the sounds heard in Istanbul, Cairo, and Beirut. Anatolia's unique sound has been described as "sounding unusual to Western ears, but soon becoming pleasant and infectious. The various drums, wind instruments, and strings produce music that makes you want to get up and dance."

Anatolia, named after the vast Anatolian plateau in western Turkey, was formed in 1994 to increase awareness of the Middle East through concerts, recordings and workshops. Their 1996 self-titled debut anthology features 11 pieces representing both urban and traditional folk music from different regions, with beautiful lyrics that translate such sentiments such as: "In the garden are rushes; roses bloom, it will be summer. I will not call my lover a rose, for the life of a rose is short."

Middle Eastern dancer Jajouka joins Anatolia for the performance. Jajouka brings a personal interpretaion to danse orientale, traditional and cabaret folklore, dances of North Africa, and Near Eastern inspired interpretive works. She was inducted into the Middle Eastern Dance Hall of Fame in 1994. As a featured soloist with the Ibrahim Farrah Near East Dance Group she has appeared at New York's Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center. Jajouka will present Middle Estern dances from Algeria and Tunisia - a rare treat for audiences. And she needn't be the only one celebrating the music! Bring your dancing shoes to the concert; there will be room to dance throughout the show!