The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi Podcast | Powered by afikra – Details, episodes & analysis

In the lead up to her two-night comedy show performance (in English on January 15 and in Arabic on January 17) of Bint Balad at the NYUAD Arts Center, Maysoon Zayid joins us on The Arts Center's podcast to chat about performing in Abu Dhabi, working with NYUAD, and the importance of creating an accessible future for individuals with disabilities. She provides insight from her multifaceted career as a comedian, writer, and university professor, and talks about her teaching philosophy, the unique dynamics of teaching a condensed J-Term, the global diversity of her students, her innovative course "Message in a Bottle," and her passion for performing live. Maysoon emphasizes the power and responsibility of storytelling, recounts her personal experiences with disability, and highlights the critical need for designing accessible environments in general. This episode is packed with humor, wisdom, and a powerful call to action for inclusivity and understanding.

00:00 Introduction to Disability & Accessibility
00:35 Meet Maysoon Zayid: a Comedian, Writer & More
01:42 Teaching at NYU Abu Dhabi: J-Term Experience
03:53 Message in a Bottle: Course Overview
07:03 The Evolution of Storytelling & Her Infamous TED Talk
09:48 Designing a Disabled-Friendly Future
14:11 Upcoming Shows & Performing in Different Languages
20:26 Accessibility in Theaters
22:01 The Responsibility of Storytelling
23:09 Personal Stories & Authenticity
25:26 A Life-Changing Experience
30:04 Career Challenges and Resilience
34:15 Future Aspirations & Humor

Maysoon Zayid is a comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and a Princeton Fellow, and is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and the Muslim Funny Fest. She was a full-time On Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann and a columnist for The Daily Beast. She has appeared on 60 Minutes, CNN, ABC News, and the Oprah Winfrey Networks, had the most viewed TED Talk of 2014, and was thrilled to collaborate with Huda Beauty. As a professional comedian, she has sold out top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and the Together Live Tour. She appeared in the critically acclaimed The Ride Along and has written for Glamour magazine. She limped in New York Fashion Week and is a recurring character on General Hospital. She is the author of the best-selling memoir Find Another Dream and Scholastic’s graphic novel Shiny Misfits. She is also the voice of the central character Bay Ann on the Audible version.

Connect with Maysoon 👉 https://www.instagram.com/maysoonzayid/

More info & tickets 👉 https://publicprograms.nyuad.nyu.edu/en/the-arts-center/events/2025/january/maysoon-zayid.html

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
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Creating intimate worlds through theater, reckoning with Lebanon's state of play, and paying homage to two of her home country's leading actresses: a conversation with theater maker Chrystèle Khodr. Khodr's play Augurs follows actresses Hanane Hajj Ali and Randa Asmar as they retrace their theatrical journeys from the moment they decide to work in theater in the early 1980s. Using her play as a basis for our conversation, we talk about the Lebanese theater scene at large, erasure of collective memory, and the realities of working in this field from Beirut. 

This episode was recorded on September 2, 2024 before the escalated aggression on Lebanon. 

0:00 Introduction 
1:36 Bringing Augurs to the Arts Center 
3:12 Original Vision to Today's Play 
12:58 Theater-makers & Lebanon's Theater Scene 
19:47 Teaching Theater 
22:23 Changing Working Relationships
27:49 Soul of Recent Projects 
36:40 Yousef Beidas
40:21 Theater Resources 
43:12 Upcoming Performances at NYUAD 

Chrystèle Khodr is a theater maker, performer, playwright and director based in Beirut. Her work springs from the emergency to reconstitute the collective memory from personal stories. 

Connect with Chrystèle 👉https://www.instagram.com/activecultures/

afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating one-hour interviews with an array of talented performers and artists showcasing the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry. Step into the minds of these visionary creators as they delve into their craft, revealing the inspirations and stories behind their extraordinary performances. 

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi offers NYUAD compelling programming that connects to the curriculum and illuminates the scholarly pursuits of students and faculty. Its range of public programs aim to animate and enrich the cultural life of both the city of Abu Dhabi and the university through interaction. As a vibrant laboratory for performance that both presents and develops work, The Arts Center fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship and community.

Hosted by: 
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hervé Koubi spoke to us in this special collaboration episode with NYUAD about What The Day Owes To The Night, which tells the story of a young boy from Yasmina Khadra's novel through highly physical, stunningly fluid, gravity-defying piece that combines capoeira, martial arts, urban, and contemporary dance.

Hervé Koubi is a dancer at the National Choreographic Center of Nantes Claude Brumachon and Benjamin Lamarche then at the National Choreographic Center of Caen with Karine Saporta and the Thor Company in Brussels with Thierry Smits, he created his choreographic project in 2000. His choreographic work was born from a mixture of techniques and influences, at the crossroads of urban dances and ballet. Hervé Koubi today wishes to question these choreographic languages to get rid of a unique technique and develop a new style of writing. Considering the porosity of techniques between them as a space for experimentation and going beyond technical and aesthetic frameworks and affiliations, he now wishes to pose the precisely blurred borders of a ballet of the 21st century, precisely open and current. Choreographer committed in the developpement of dance for the communities, it is also in the encounter and sharing between his works, his audiences and his practices that he develops numerous projects of territories and artistic education. He was awarded in July 2015 with the Order of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Reem Almenhali and Joanna Settle spoke to us in this special collaboration episode with NYUAD about their play, Al Raheel | Departure, which is about the depth and diversity of life as a woman in the UAE.

Reem Almenhali is an Emirati performance artist and a playwright. Her body of work includes two performances Deliberately and in Cash and Al Raheel | Departure. Reem received a B.A in theater with a minor in psychology from New York University Abu Dhabi. Reem also wrote Al Raheel | Departure, and co-created the performance in collaboration with the director Joanna Settle. Al Raheel is a bilingual contemporary theater piece that uses poetry to explore how the rapidly evolving lifestyle in the UAE and its bilingual reality affected notions of womanhood and redefined belonging for women in different stages of life. Reem won the 2020 Gulf Capital ADMAF Creativity Award for writing the script of Al Raheel.

Joanna Settle came of age as an artist working in the downtown New York experimental scene. She directs and collaborates on the development of world premiere plays, musicals, operas and interdisciplinary work. After completing her graduate studies at The Juilliard School, she served as the Artistic Director of Chicago’s Division 13 Productions from 1998 to 2004 and directed and adapted 15 of D13’s 17 projects, including BLOOD LINE: The Oedipus/Antigone Story, two plays by Sophocles, Macbett by Ionesco, and several Samuel Beckett shorts including Cascando and Play. She served as Artistic Director of Shakespeare on the Sound 2009 to 2012, where she directed free outdoor Shakespeare productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and Romeo and Juliet for audiences of up to 2,000 people per night. She has taught and guest directed at Brown University, Bard College, Williams College, Juilliard, Cornell, Stanford University’s PhD Program, and served as Director of the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at the University of the Arts from 2014 to 2016.

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Meklit Hadero spoke about her career as a singer, this episode is in collaboration with the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center.

Meklit Hadero, known simply as Meklit, is an Ethiopian-born American singer and songwriter based in San Francisco, California. She is known for her soulful performing style, and for combining jazz, folk, and East African influences in her music. She sings in her native Amharic, and English. Meklit has released five records to date. The first was a self-produced and released eight-song EP entitled Eight Songs (2008). The second, her first full-length LP, On a Day Like This... released to wide critical acclaim in 2010 was produced by Eric Moffat and Unsound Recording.

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

We’re kicking off the third season of the NYUAD Podcast with Bill Bragin, founding executive artistic director of The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi, and Maya Allison, founding executive director of The Art Galleries and senior research scholar and chief curator at New York University #AbuDhabi. They tell us all about what this year holds at NYUAD’s Arts Center with reflections on the legacy they’ve built so far and the local cultural eco-system that they’ve painstakingly nurtured. Maya and Bill invite us into their curatorial decision making, how they see their “local” context in Abu Dhabi, and what it took to speak to an audience that didn’t yet exist. From their biggest learning curves through to curating for an audience with wildly different reference points and cultural backgrounds, this conversation gives us a fascinating look at how the NYUAD Arts Center came to be the fixture of Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene that it is today. You'll also get a sneak peak of what to expect from this new season of performances and exhibitions at The Arts Center.

Bill Bragin is a leading figure in music and arts programming and is the first executive artistic director of The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi. Called “one of the most influential figures in the New York live-music business” by The New York Times, Bill brings extensive experience, creativity, and his own unique multidisciplinary vision to the role.

Connect with Bill 👉https://www.instagram.com/activecultures/

Maya Allison is the Chief Curator at NYU Abu Dhabi and founding Executive Director of the NYUAD Art Gallery and Project Space. Her background is in academic museums: she curated her first major exhibitions at The RISD Museum (Rhode Island School of Design), then served as curator of the Bell Gallery (Brown University). She was also director of the city-wide, international new media showcase Pixilerations, and of the 5 Traverse Gallery, all in the US. She holds an MFA from Columbia University, a BA in art history from Reed College, and continued her research on curatorial practice via a fellowship at Brown University’s Center for Public Humanities.

Connect with Maya 👉https://www.instagram.com/mayaallison2.0/?hl=en

afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating one-hour interviews with an array of talented performers and artists showcasing the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry. Step into the minds of these visionary creators as they delve into their craft, revealing the inspirations and stories behind their extraordinary performances.

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi offers NYUAD compelling programming that connects to the curriculum and illuminates the scholarly pursuits of students and faculty. Its range of public programs aim to animate and enrich the cultural life of both the city of Abu Dhabi and the university through interaction. As a vibrant laboratory for performance that both presents and develops work, The Arts Center fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship and community.

Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD Arts Center Podcast:

» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540

» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83

» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

ABOUT AFIKRA

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts

⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

The last episode of this season of the NYUAD Arts Center Podcast is with Emel Mathlouthi – who has been called this generation’s Fairuz. We ask her how she feels about this comparison, her rise to fame during the Tunisian revolution, and performing at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. She shares her insight into her “musical universe”, how she approaches song writing — and how songs sometimes write themselves — and why she experiences music cinematically. 

Emel Mathlouthi is a Tunisian-American singer, songwriter, musician and producer. Her music combines a range of influences — bringing together protest songs, North African percussion, cello, electronic textures and western musical tradition. 

Connect with Emel 👉https://www.instagram.com/emelmathlouthi/

You can catch Emel performing on Saturday March 2nd at the Red Theatre in NYU Abu Dhabi 👉 https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/events/2024/march/barzakh-festival-2024.html

afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating one-hour interviews with an array of talented performers and artists showcasing the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry. Step into the minds of these visionary creators as they delve into their craft, revealing the inspirations and stories behind their extraordinary performances.

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi offers NYUAD compelling programming that connects to the curriculum and illuminates the scholarly pursuits of students and faculty. Its range of public programs aim to animate and enrich the cultural life of both the city of Abu Dhabi and the university through interaction. As a vibrant laboratory for performance that both presents and develops work, The Arts Center fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship and community.
Hosted by:

Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts

⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

#NYUADartscenter #EmelMathlouthi #TunisianMusic #Tunis #Tunisia #EMEL

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

In this new episode of the NYUAD Arts Center Podcast, Egyptian musician, composer and producer, Dina El Wedidi takes us through the different eras of her musical career, reflecting on her mentorship and collaboration with Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil, her experience with the Nile Project, and "Slumber/Manam" — what she calls her most meaningful project to date.

Dina El Wedidi is an Egyptian singer, composer and music producer. In 2012 she represented Egypt in the Nile Project, where she collaborated as a musician and composer on two albums, Aswan in 2013 and Jinja in 2014. She was chosen by the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative 2013-2014 to be mentored by Gilberto Gil. In 2018 she released her second album titled “Slumber/Manam”, a distinctive experimental project in which she utilized the sounds of trains in motion as the background for all of her songs. Dina El Wedidi was chosen by Time magazine as one of the ten Next Generation Leaders, in 2019.

Connect with Dina 👉https://www.instagram.com/dina.elwedidi/?hl=en

You can catch Dina performing at NYUAD's Red Theatre on March 1st alongside Samora Pinderhughes.

afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating one-hour interviews with an array of talented performers and artists showcasing the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry. Step into the minds of these visionary creators as they delve into their craft, revealing the inspirations and stories behind their extraordinary performances.
 

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi offers NYUAD compelling programming that connects to the curriculum and illuminates the scholarly pursuits of students and faculty. Its range of public programs aim to animate and enrich the cultural life of both the city of Abu Dhabi and the university through interaction. As a vibrant laboratory for performance that both presents and develops work, The Arts Center fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship and community.

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK

Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts

⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ 

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official 

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
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In the lead up to the performance of FRONTERA at NYUAD’s Red Theatre, we talk to Dana Gingras, the choreographer of the show and founder of multimedia dance company Animals of Distinction. Dana talks about her creative process and how she strives to produce shows that are viscerally engaging, experiential and kinetic. She shares how she balances and tweaks her choreography to accommodate different spaces and contexts – inhabiting her audience’s gaze – and what it actually takes to put a show together. 

Dana gives us insight into how the collaboration between Animals of Distinction, Fly Pan Am and United Visual Artists culminates into what NYU Abu Dhabi’s Art Center calls “a visually stunning spectacle of propulsive dance, powerful live post-rock, and dazzling lighting.” Finally, we asked Dana for advice she would give to aspiring dancers and her take on what’s trending in the dance world right now. 

FRONTERA is on at the NYUAD on the 12th and 13th October 2023. 

Animals of Distinction (AOD) is the multimedia dance company of renowned choreographer and dancer Dana Gingras. Through AOD, Gingras has fostered the creation of numerous cutting-edge works that have involved innovative collaborations across diverse mediums and artistic practices, all shaped by the possibilities of new technologies and cultural shifts. About FRONTERA: Choreographer Dana Gingras explores spaces of inclusion and exclusion, tackling borders as boundaries between the public and private realms. 

Animals of Distinction’s nine dancers — their bodies mapped in high resolution and their destinies unresolved — contend with the ideas of a real or imaginary dividing line, and the extreme limits of understanding. London-based art practice United Visual Artists (UVA) creates a spectacular world of light. Founded in 2003 by British artist Matt Clark, UVA’s diverse body of work integrates new technologies with traditional media such as painting, sculpture, performance, and site-specific installation. Paired with Canadian experimental rock band ( formed in Montreal in 1996) Fly Pan Am’s live, gripping, post-rock beats and field recordings by Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Dave Bryant, they form a dynamic, visual conversation between choreography, architecture and sound. In an era of accelerated climate change, mass migration and corporate surveillance, the human body has never been rendered so visible, subject to increasingly invasive forms of oversight and processing. Increasingly, the border moves with the body and seeks to organize and orchestrate its passage through the world. In the ever-advancing frontier of technology, what space remains for the unruly, ungovernable body? 

This is the third episode in the second season of The NYUAD Arts Center podcast. This podcast series delves into the intricate tapestry of the Arab world's histories and cultures through a performing arts lens. Our five guests share their expertise and personal journeys. Make sure to watch the remaining four!  

****** ABOUT AFIKRA ******‎ 

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present, and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 

📍 Local events in 30 locations worldwidehttp://afikra.com/chapters 

🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts 

⚡ Support our work: http://afikra.com/support 

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ 

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official 

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra
 

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

This conversation with Asian Dub Foundation’s longest-standing member, Steve Chandra Savale, covers a lot of ground: ranging from the band’s agenda and core values of an educational-based philosophy to East London in the 90s and re-scoring the movie La Haine. Steve shares what it was like emerging out of the post-punk and acid-house era and how the band developed their unique soundscape while honoring the sounds of their parents’ record collections. He takes us through the origins of the “remix” and explains – for those of us who aren’t yet familiar with these genres – the differences between dub-reggae, jungle and more. Finally, Steve gives us a preview of ADF’s upcoming performance at The NYUAD Arts Center on September 22, 2023 – including their live reinterpretation of La Haine’s music score.

Steve Chandra Savale is a British musician who joined the Asian Dub Foundation in 1994 and is the band’s longest standing member. He co-wrote and co-produced all of the band’s nine official studio albums to date. He also initiated the concept for their live “re-score” of the film La Haine which they will be performing at The NYUAD Arts Center on September 22, 2023. 

The Asian Dub Foundation are said to be a “genre unto themselves”. Their music offers a unique combination of “tough jungle rhythms, dub basslines, wild guitar and forceful high-speed raps, overlaid by references and homages to their South Asian roots.” Since the early 90s, they have been pioneers in many senses, not least in confronting racial stereotypes through their work. The band formed out of a music workshop at Community Music in East London aimed at getting young Asians into music. Steve teaches Music History there to this day. 

This is the second episode in the second season of The NYUAD Arts Center x afikra podcast, which delves deep into the intricate tapestry of the Arab world's histories and cultures. This podcast is your passport to the Arab world's rich and diverse histories and cultures, so get ready to embark on an immersive journey of knowledge, inspiration and endless curiosity. 

******‎ ABOUT THE SERIES******‎ 

Join us on an intellectual odyssey with The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi Podcast Series that delves deep into the intricate tapestry of the Arab world's histories and cultures. 

As our guests share their expertise and personal journeys, we invite you to embark on a voyage of discovery. Prepare to be enlightened, entertained, and intrigued, as each conversation sparks a new flame of curiosity within you. 

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi Podcast Series  is your passport to the Arab world's rich and diverse histories and cultures. Get ready to embark on an immersive journey of knowledge, inspiration, and endless curiosity.

****** ABOUT AFIKRA ******‎ 

afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.

📍 Local Events in 30 locations worldwide (17 in MENA, 7 in Europe, 6 in Americas) http://afikra.com/chapters 

🎧 New Podcasts + Videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts 

⚡ Support our work http://afikra.com/support 

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ 

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official 

🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra 

*******

Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83
» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMb

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra