Darleene Barrientos
A whole lotta shakin' will be going on at the Glendale Civic
Auditorium today and Sunday.
Jerry Lee Lewis won't be in the building, but the Cairo Carnivale
dance festival, sponsored by the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance
Assn., will take over the Glendale Civic Auditorium from 11:30 a.m.
to 7:30 p.m. today and from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
More than 4,000 people are expected at the event -- which will
feature more than 145 cabaret and folkloric shows, featuring 550
performers on two stages -- inspired by traditional dance and music
from the Mediterranean area.
The event is in its 27th year, but this will be the festival's
third year in the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
"It started out much smaller. It's one of those things that
evolved from someone's huge backyard to several different locations,"
said Marta Schill, the association's president.
About 80 vendors will create a "village" on each floor, selling
items like home decor, artwork, clothes, drums and tambourines. A
henna artist and masseuse will be available and people are invited to
join the acoustic drum circle.
Some of the event's proceeds will benefit area domestic violence
programs and shelters, Schill said. Proceeds from a "shimmy-thon,"
which is at 2:30 p.m. each day, will go toward the association's
Healing through Dance project. In the "shimmy-thon," participants are
sponsored to raise money for the programs.
Much of the festival is "eye candy," dancer Jayna Kouzouyan said.
Kouzouyan performs regularly at Carousel restaurant, 304 N. Brand
Blvd.
"It's a lot of energy, so many things to see and do, so many
beautiful acts, and different kinds of dances. It's not just one
belly dance performance after another, there's samba, flamenco and
different forms of belly dance," Kouzouyan said. "A lot of people
misjudge belly dance, but if people go, they won't misjudge anymore."
