Al-Bahira Dance Theater Ifrita Helwa at the Southern Theater Minneapolis Directed by Mirah Ammal

Ifrita Helwa (Sweet Devil)

June 21-24, 2012

at the Southern Theater, Minneapolis

Wahid was unlucky in work, in love and in life, until one day he met a helpful djinneye...and that's when his problems really began!

Al-Bahira Dance Theater presents "Ifrita Helwa", an original dance-play based in traditional Egyptian and American stories and inspired by the 1949 Egyptian film, “Afrita Hanem”. Featuring contemporary and theatrical dances derived from traditional dance and classical music of Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran (Persia), with collaboration between Mirah Ammal, Al-Bahira artists, guest artist Derek Phillips, and guest choreographer Laurel Victoria Gray.

Ifrita Helwa is the story of Wahid, a kind, passionate, but poor theater operator in Cairo. Shaken by financial problems and the loss of his star performer (and unrequited love), Amira, Wahid encounters the Ifrita, a mischievous but well-intentioned djinneye who helps him realize that, often, what we think we want and what we really needs may not necessarily be the same.

Ifrita Helwa is made possible in part by a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and through the support of individuals like you! Donations to Al-Bahira through our fiscal sponsor, Springboard for the Arts are tax deductible.

Make a tax-exempt donation to Al-Bahira and the "Ifrita Helwa" project

Show times:

   Thursday June 21, 7:00 p.m. (Post-show discussion to follow)
   Friday June 22, 8:00 p.m.
   Saturday June 23, 8:00 p.m.
   Sunday June 24, 4:00 p.m. (Post-show discussion for kids and families follows)

Al-Bahira Dance Theater and Aalim School of Dance, LLC.

P.O. Box 19342

Minneapolis, MN 55419

612-703-7002

or 763-229-7801

info@aalimschool.com

Press Box

Press releases, In the news/reviews, video, images, contact information, production credits, preview schedules and more

Ifrita Helwa! (Sweet Devil) initial press release

PR Contact: press@albahira.org

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Production Credits

Artistic Director: Mirah Ammal

Choreography: Mirah Ammal & Dr. Laurel Victoria Gray

Guest Starring: Derek Phillips with John Munger

Lighting Design: Mike Grogan

Stage Mgr: Phoebe Schultz

Costume Design: Laurie Olson Williams et.al.

Directoral & Production Assistance: Abby Smith, Barb Fulton, Jessica Tkatch-Paquin, Andrea Jabari, Kathleen Smith

Starring: Derek Philips as Wahid; Alicia Pankratz as Noura; Afrita Kristin Kujawski as Amira, Inara Kate Southwick as the Fortune Teller, with Mirah Ammal as the Ifrita and John Munger as "Samir the Narrator"

Featuring performances by Amara, Ameera, Anjela, Dr. Dave Lake, DeeDee, Fareehah, Inara, Iscah Paquin, Kathleen, Nilat, Ozeta, Perizada, Safia, and Tatyana.

Show Previews

Al-Bahira will be previewing the show with events and appearances. Dates and information to come!