An Arabic proverb says, “To understand a people, you must live among them for 40 days.”

Tamalyn Dallal presents:
40 Days and 1001 Nights,
Seeing the Islamic World Through the Eyes of a Dancer

When: May 5-6, 2007 @ 12pm NOON
Where: The Grand Illusion Cinema
1403 50th St (University and 50th)
Admission: $12/advance, $15/door
Contact: Tamalyn Dallal
Telephone: 206-226-3882
Email: tamalyndallal@yahoo.com
Websites: www.40daysand1001nights.com and www.tamalyndallal.com
Blog: http:40daysand1001nights.blogspot.com

The film:
This subtitled musical documentary, 40 Days and 1001 Nights, is a sensory feast of sights, sounds, music, dance and food. It is more than a travel film, rather Ms. Dallal goes into the lives in five diverse countries. Each section has an entirely different feel; Indonesia with its vibrant colors and the Acehnise ethnic rock sounds of Rafly, contrasted by images from the aftermath of the tsunami. Egypt’s Siwa Oasis is earthy, the colors of the desert, featuring a rare glimpse of music and dance in the completely separate worlds of women and men. Zanzibar shows a forgotten and decaying island with rich musical traditions, village weddings, and a long tradition of fishing from wooden dhows. Jordan will excite viewers with acrobatic dances, as well as ruined towns from Roman and Nabatean times. Lastly, the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China delights with images of the Ancient Silk Road in modern times. The soundtrack is as important as the visual, and the scenes are choreographed to the music, like a dance on film.

Tamalyn’s CD “40 Days and 1001 Nights: Bellydance Music for Tamalyn Dallal” is available at Centerstage.