On Friday 11th April 2025, ALCASA joined forces once again with the History Trust of South Australia Migration Museum to host a special community gathering to launch the new ALCASA project “Arabic Arts Alive 2025”! This project aims to bring people together through Arabic film, music, dance, and storytelling. Over 36 diverse community members attended the launch and contributed to some exciting planning ideas accompanied by excellent Arabic music vibes provided by DJ Rania. The event ended with the compulsory sharing of a delicious, shared dinner and festive Dabke dancing!!
This is the third successful collaboration between ALCASA and the History Trust of South Australia Migration Museum, following the success of ‘Objects Tell Stories” (2021) and “Ahlan Wa Sahlan – a celebration of Arabic Hospitality” (2022-2023). Supported by the generosity of the City of Adelaide Arts and Cultural Grants, Arabic Arts Alive 2025 is an ambitious project to showcase the significance and the experience of the Arabic music and dance in the lives of the South Australian community including the SA Arabic-speaking community members.
The project launch event commenced with a curation brainstorming session to co-design an Expression Of Interest to invite the community to participate in the project. It is important that Arabic speaking diaspora in Adelaide feel empowered to contribute, shape and influence how their culture is celebrated and portrayed. Asking foundational questions such as:
- Topics/ themes about Arabic music and dance people should know about/ I want to learn more about.
- How would you display/ share your story about music and dance with others?
- What activities would you expect at the story telling workshops about Arabic music and dance?
- Are you interested in being part in a story telling planning group to work towards publishing the shared stories?
This information will be used by the planning committee to consider how best to showcase community members’ stories around the SA Arabic music and dance heritage, which may include video footage, presentations, oral stories, visual arts items and live performances.
Another aspect of the project is an ambition to establish a Community Singing and Dance Troupe. Participants in the launch event reviewed a draft to finalise soon and share with the community to gather Expressions of Interest to take part in a series of five community singing rehearsal sessions and five community dabke rehearsal sessions. An end of project celebratory event is planned to happen on Sunday 21 September 2025.
The Arabic Arts Alive 2025 current planning committee members are very thankful to all who attended the project’s launch. It was an unforgettable planning session and a night of music and dance with DJ Rania – truly awesome!
Check out the short video below for a glimpse into the event.
Hassan Mekawe
ALCASA Secretary and Co-Founder
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