FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH Returns with a Celebration Egyptian Dance in All its Forms

From the Horse's Mouth, the legacy-based dance/theater project, will begin its 20th anniversary year with "A Footnote in Ballet History," a special program honoring Magda Saleh, Prima Ballerina of Egypt.

Dr. Saleh's remarkable story forms the heart of this production, focusing on dance, arts and culture in Egypt. Her influence and impact on countless areas of cultural life in Egypt and the USA serves as a conduit to this celebration of Egyptian dance in all of its forms and traditions. Over 30 dancers, musicians, historians and choreographers will participate in this special event. The sharing of stories, memories, anecdotes, and dance will form the special tapestry that is a From the Horse's Mouth production.

Four performances, exploring Egyptian dance and culture, will take place at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, Thursday to Saturday, March 15-17 at 8pm and Sunday, March 18 at 3pm. Rare film footage, videos and multimedia will enhance this edition of From the Horse's Mouth and its unique blending of movement and storytelling.

SPECIAL FILM EVENTS:

"A Footnote in Ballet History" (2017) Tuesday, March 13 at 6:00pm
New York premiere and panel discussion. The establishment of the art of classical ballet in Egypt under the auspices of the state during the cold war is at the heart of an extraordinary saga, narrated here by its first pioneers. Prima Ballerina Magda Saleh and fellow dancers recall the founding of the first national ballet school, staffed with Soviet teachers - the early triumphs, collapse and renewed hopes over five decades. See trailer HERE.

"Egypt Dances" (1977) Saturday, March 17 at 3pm - Narrated by Dr. Magda Saleh. In this ground-breaking documentary from 1977, Magda Saleh travels the length and breadth of Egypt to create a visual record of the numerous indigenous dance forms throughout the country. Many of these are practiced by just a few communities, several have all but disappeared since the film's completion. Viewers will have a unique opportunity to witness traditional folk dances like the Shettaywa dance of Siwa Oasis, to the dancing horses of Giza, to the dances of the Fadigga Nubians of Aswan, and much more.

*PERFORMANCE CAST TO INCLUDE: Walid Aouni, Dancer/Choreographer and Founder/Director of the Cairo Modern Dance Theater Company and Cairo Opera House, Catherine Batcheller, Principal, Royal Birmingham Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet, Nadia Habib Eskinazi, founding member, and soloist Cairo Ballet Company, Diane Gemayel, of the Bolshoi Five-Founding principal ballerina Cairo Ballet Company (1966), Nimet Habachy,"New York Icon" longtime host WQXR classical music station, Nader Hamed, former dancer Cairo Ballet Company, Choreographer, Teacher and Coach, Fadi J. Khoury, Artistic Director, FJK Dance, Ati Metwaly, Arts/Culture editor of "El Ahram," Egypt's foremost newspaper, dancers Steven Melendez and Carmella Lauer, NY Theatre Ballet, Madeleine Scott, former Director of Dance at Ohio University, more.

This From the Horse's Mouth production is co-presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y.

"FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH" - CELEBRATING EGYPTIAN DANCE IN ALL ITS FORMS AND TRADITIONS
Thursday, March 15, Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 at 8pm; Sunday, March 18 at 3pm.

Film screenings - Tuesday., March 13 at 6pm - "A Footnote in Ballet History"; Saturday,  March 17 at 3pm - "Egypt Dances"

TICKETS: http://14streety.secure.force.com/ticket
The Theater at the 14th Street Y
344 East 14th St (between 1st and 2nd Avenues
New York, NY 10003

$35 General Admission
$25 Seniors
$20 Students and 14Y Members

Film Screenings - $10
General 14Y Information: 212-780-0800 or 212-666-2587

ABOUT "FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH":

Created by Tina Croll & Jamie Cunningham, this celebratory dance/theater experience has received standing ovations and rave reviews across the United States and Canada for its captivating story-telling and exceptional dancing.

Over the past 20 years "From the Horse's Mouth" has been presented in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Honolulu, Minneapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, and Toronto, as well as Jacob's Pillow and the American Dance Festival. To date over 1,000 dancers, from ages 13 to 94, have participated, including Mary Anthony, Brenda Bufalino, Roxane Butterfly, Jane Comfort, Grover Dale, Gemze de Lappe, Carmen de Lavallade, David Dorfman, Viola Farber, John Jaspers, Kwikstep & Rokafella, Carol Lawrence, Yvonne Rainer, Gus Solomons jr and Martine van Hamel.

ABOUT MAGDA SALEH:

Magda Saleh is a graduate of the Bolshoi Academy of Ballet in Moscow and the Higher Institute of Ballet at the Academy of Arts of Egypt; holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature, Ain Shams University, Cairo; an M.A. the University of California at Los Angeles; and a Ph.D. from the New York University School of Education. She was a Prima Ballerina of the Russian-trained Cairo Ballet Company established in 1966 by the Ministry of Culture of Egypt, Senior Professor and Dean of the Higher Institute of Ballet and Founding Director of the New Cairo Opera House-National Cultural Center.

Saleh is the recipient of scholarships, awards, honors and distinctions, including the Order of Merit from President Gamal Abdel Nasser. With her partner Abdel Moneim Kamel, she has performed as a guest artist with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad at the invitation of the Soviet Ministry of Culture; she has represented Egypt as a member of the Conseil International de la Danse and the International Theater Institute, UNESCO, of the jury of international ballet competitions, the National Specialized Councils, Egypt, among other national and international associations.

Currently a resident of New York, and married to Egyptologist Jack Josephson, she remains dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and furthering mutual understanding between the USA, Egypt and other nations of the Middle East. READ: "Egypt is within me': Prima ballerina Magda Saleh on her career and the gilded years."

ABOUT THE THEATER AT THE 14TH STREET Y:

The Theater at the 14th Street Y focuses on social awareness and change through big picture narrative. Inspired by works that welcome artists of all backgrounds, we place artists at the heart of our community and seek to create an inclusive and open cultural experience for all. Art is incubated here.

ABOUT THE 14TH STREET Y:

The 14th Street Y's philosophy is grounded in the belief that contemporary Jewish sensibilities can be a source of inspiration, connection and learning. No matter what your background, we aim to inspire you to live your best life. We're committed to the development of the whole person, to strengthening family connections and to building inclusive and sustainable communities. The 14th Street Y serves more than 20,000 people annually with a variety of community programs and is proud to be a part of Educational Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a 128-year history of serving New Yorkers downtown.