Two Countries, One Soul – A Photo Gallery

The Jordanian Romanian Forum for Culture

(JRFC)

Warmly invites you to an eye capturing experience

Two Countries, One Soul – A Photo Gallery

Photos from Jordan and Romania, featuring The special guest and Jordanian Photographer: Ehab Othman

Opening: Wednesday the 21st of January 2009 at 18:30

Mecca mall – Ground Floor- The extension.
Wednesday the 21st , Thursday the 22nd and Friday the 23rd of January 2009


Sponsored by:
Mecca Mall
Ashab Advertising
Abu Mahjoob Creative Products
Jordanian Youth Creativity Forum

Laugh it out loud with Jordanians!

This article By Mike V. Derderian, can be found in TODAY's edition of the Star.

“Does anyone have any questions for the sponsors?” Omar Al Maani, the mayor of Amman, with a hint of gentle sarcasm said to a silent hoard of media representatives before someone actually did.

Silence prevailed for a moment or two until one journalist finally asked a question and begged one sponsor to fund an association for theatrical actors. For a press conference about a comedy festival that was extremely funny. A few minutes ago Maani, who with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is sponsoring Jordan’s first stand-up comedy festival, said that he uses humor to face the trials and tribulations of a day at the office.

“If I don’t do so I would blow a vein or die of a heart attack. Please if anyone has a good joke or two e-mail them to me,” Maani, who gave a heartfelt laugh as members of the press soon joined in.

Sitting next to Maani was Dean Obeidallah, an American comedian of Arabian roots, who was there with Maani and the of course sponsors part of a press conference to talk about The Amman Stand-Up Comedy Festival, which is to be held between December 2 and December 5 at Al Hussein Cultural Center.

Jordanians were first introduced to the stand up comedy format a few months ago when Obeidallah performed along The Axis of Evil comedians Maz Jobrani, Aron Kader and Ahmed Ahmed, who will all perform in the upcoming festival.

Some journalists attending the press conference mistook this social, religious, economic and political driven art form of self-expression as a branch of comedic theatre. Ok, maybe I am pushing the envelope when I religious. Stand-up comedy is an inner monologue that is voiced out-loud to a sitting crowd and a stand-up comedian is only armed with his razor sharp tongue, wits, jokes, humorous dialogue, punch-lines and of course a microphone.

For the upcoming festival there will be over 15 performers including Arab American comedians like Ali Hassan, Amer Zahr, James Smith, Mike Batayeh, Nemr Abu Nassar, Ronnie Khalil, Meena Dimian, Ronnie Khali, George Azmy, Ted Alexandro, James Smith, Russell Peters and of course Maysoon Zayid.

On their Facebook group the organizers announced that they want Jordanians in the lineup of the festival. So anyone interested in performing can upload videos online and send the links to ascf@ammancity.gov.jo and dean@deanofcomedy.com.

The stand-up comedy fever is spreading and the festival's posters that were fixed over electricity line poles are worth the checking. Reading the festival's main tagline Rah Tedhak Khawa, which roughly translates to You Will Be Forced To Laugh, which is written over and under human faces that have a wide smile superimposed over their real and dull expressions, one cannot but wonder why Jordanians are looked upon as no more than a bunch of sourpusses—hardly the case when one attends a gathering of friends, young and old, read a caricature for Emad Hajjaj or even strike up a conversation with a taxi driver.

Jordanians are funny but they have been repeating this lie—Jordanians are not funny—for so long that they've started to believe it and the Festival of Comedy will hopefully change this.

"The purpose behind the festival is to change this misconception as I believe Jordanians are intelligent and often express themselves through humor in their daily activities," Maani stated, adding, "the success of Laughter Week yielded the idea for this festival, which is part of GAM's mission to hone individualistic skills and talents."

The festival, which is part of a non-profit program, was developed in close collaboration with the critically acclaimed New York Arab-American Comedy Festival, which according to Maani is here to stay if it proves successful with Jordanians.

“This is truly the first festival. The other show we did had the same performers each night. This is each show is a different night with different performers and that's truly the essence of a festival in my eyes," Obeidallah said, before adding, "such a festival will result in positive press coverage for the locality that is having the event. The Montreal and Edinburgh Comedy Festival did the same respectively for Canada and Scotland.

Obeidallah believes that this Festival will encourage young talents to become more active in the Jordanian performing arts arena especially stand-up. "I also see this event creating a wider appreciation for comedy in Jordan and should be recognized as a marked calendar occurrence staged in Amman, as the region is full of raw talent that we are hoping to bring to the forefront and if all goes well this year the festival will become a staple of Amman,” Obeidallah added.

The festival according to Maani will contribute to Amman's position as a pioneering city that embraces, creates, and hosts cultural activities like the stand-up comedy festival that he hopes will attract headlining performers from the Middle East, United States of America, and Europe.

“The Greater Amman Municipality anticipates that this festival will increase tourist traffic to the City during the month of December and will also place Jordan and its talent pool on the international map of comedy. We are always keen on urging our community members to express themselves and interact through the many forms of performing arts and stand-up comedy is the rawest and most interactive form of comedy,” explained Maani, "if this year's festival proves successful we will turn it into an event that will turn Amman to a comedic hub that will attract comedians from across the Middle East."

"The goal of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival that I worked on and created with Comedian Maysoon Zayid, five years ago was not only to entertain but to break stereotypes and show other Americans that Arabs can be funny. I hope that there will be media coverage back home about this festival to show that Arabs in this region are funny, "Obeidallah explained.

Well, Jordanians will just have to prove, to themselves first, and the world second, that they have funny bones and a Jordanian holding a microphone standing on an empty stage facing a crowd can be as funny as an American stand up comedian doing the same.

Expressive enough :) See you at the Amman Stand-up Comedy festival between the 2nd and the 5th of December at Ras El-Ein :) .... hmm ,,, well, less the last couple of days, as i have another hot even for you to be reveled soon ;)

The Shashati Show

The Shashati Show, this coming saturday, August 24th at the citadel. Short movies, music, and more!

CulTalent - Sunday, 2 March, 2008 @ 6:00 PM

Under the patronage of Her Excellency, Mrs Nancy Bakeer, The Minister of Culture. The Jordanian Romanian Forum for Culture is taking the honor to invite you to the Cultural evening and talent show entitled:

“CulTalent”

... cool talent

Held in cooperation with Ahlia Plaza Super Stores at The Royal Cultural Center, this Sunday, March the 2^nd at 6:00 PM.

The show will feature various young talents performing on the piano, playing theater pieces, break dancing, and singing. As well as an Art Gallery, a folkloric fashion show, and a small book exhibition.

Invitation is public, and Entrance is Free.

This event is sponsored by:

Ahlia Plaza SuperStores | Class Laundry–Sweifieh

تحت رعاية معالي وزير الثقافة، السيدة نانسي باكير. يتشرف المنتدى الأردني الروماني للثقافة بدعوتكم لحضور اليوم الثقافي و عرض المواهب الشابة

” CulTalent“

cool talent.....

و الذي يقام بالتعاون مع الأهلية بلازا سوبر ستورز في المركز الثقافي الملكي، يوم الأحد المقبل 2 آذار \ مارس في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً.

و تشمل الفعالية عروضاً لعزف على البيانو و فقرات تمثيلية و غنائية و راقصة لمواهب شابة، بالإضافة إلى معرض فني و عروض أزياء فولكلورية و معرض مصغر للكتاب

الدعوة عامة و الدخول مجاني.

هذه الفعالية برعاية:

الأهلية بلازا سوبر ستورز | كلاس لاندري – الصويفية

Sub patronajul excelentei sale, Dna Nancy Bakeer, Ministerul Culturii. Forumul Cultural Iordano-Roman are onoarea sa va invite la seara culturala si prezentarea tinerilor talente intitulata:

“CulTalent”

... cool talent

Evenimentul va avea loc la Centrul Cultural Regal, Duminica 2 Martie la ora 6:00 PM.

Spectacolul va va prezinta performantele unor tinere talente la pian, piese de teatru, muzica, break dancing, si presentarea unor costume folclorice. De asemeni, o mica gallerie de arta si expozitie de carti vor fi expuse.

Invitatia este publica, si Entrarea Gratuita.

Acest eveniment este sponsorizat de:

Ahlia Plaza SuperStores | Class Landry–Sweifieh

a Tribute to Mo'nes Razzaz...

الى اين يهرب المرء من ضجيج هذا العالم المرهق , ليعقد هدنة مع النفس ولو الى حين ؟ أي ملاذ بوسعه ان يوارينا بين الحين و الآخر بعيدا عن رنين الهاتف و جرس الباب و ابواق السيارات و صوت التلفزيون ؟

.... الايام قصيرة .. والاعوام طويلة ..من ذا الذي قال لي ذلك ؟ تركض و تلهث طوال اليوم .. موعد هنا , مقابلة هناك , اجتمع هنالك .. و في نهاية السنة تقف . متأملا ما أنجزته , فاذا به لا شيء !!!

مؤنس الرزاز

Mo'nes Al-Razzaz, May god Rest His soul...

Being a person who likes originals as is , i didnt translate this, it sounds better in his own words.

National Doze of Fine Arts

Earlier this month, walking desperately in Webdeh, looking for IT & Tech companies to apply for training during this summer (I must write a critique-based post specially for this issue: over 80 Tech companies in Jordan,,, or that's what they claim at least!) , I passed by the rehabilitated “National Gallery of Fine Arts” ... for those uncultured people reading my post, this Jordanian National Gallery of Fine Arts exists since 1980, rehabilitated & extended widely this year & officially reopened on the 15th of May.

So, I passed by & decided to give up looking for the damn IT companies & get My self a BIG doze of relaxation & food for my mind & soul , ART!

Now after this reopening, the Gallery consists of 2 buildings, the same Old one which is on the side of the so-called “Park Circle” (dawwar el-montazah) in Webdeh, which doesnt really look as a Dawwar as anyone who doesnt know the area may think! & a completely new building right on the other side of this Park opposite of the old building, & last but not least: what is between the 2 buildings !!!!! Yup , The Park is part of the gallery now! COOL:)

This “National Doze of Fine Arts” as U may call it now also includes a terrace Cafe on the roof of the new building, titled (Point of View) the terrace has a view on Southern Webdeh & Jabal Amman, awesome! it also includes a Cafe & a Restaurant on a side of the park, this was yet under construction when i passed by on the 1st of June, it looked a nice place, especially with the nice smell of Lime Trees around it, & by the way, it is called “Canvas” ,,, very artistic title, even in Soft-Arts for us ITers ;) Not forgetting a Library in the new Building & a Zara Gift Shop Branch in the Old one.

Talking about the park, which is the Link Between the main 2 buildings, the Park is just Perfect, it has well managed Play Area for the kids, Very Clean, Information about each & every Planted item in it (which are all water conservative plants),also includes a Japanese Garden, an Open air stage, & a fountain, I guess its Andalusian..... in brief, Just PERFECT!

Unfortunately,I didn't had that time to tour all around this Doze of Art & Culture since I had to go home having to complete a ton of projects & with the finals around the corner. So I had the chance to enjoy the Old Building only & in a hurry!! but the 3 floors of the old building took me over an hour! really magnificent, I stared at one of paintings about 15 minutes despite it was simply (a woman facing a blank wall & giving her back to the viewer, with chock X/O game on the wall!!) ,,, believe it or not, I've discovered even the 5th dimension in this painting!!!!

I invite U all to this nice artistic & cultural place in the artistic heart of the Capital, Webdeh. I will be dedicating a big part of this time for this nice place soon hopefully,if not a full day maybe; it really worths it! & for those couples reading my post, try discovering your partner from the deepest point in his/her personality in this place.

Before ending this long post, The gallery deposits just over 2000 artworks from 85 countries, so expect artworks to be changed each in a while. The gallery is open all days but Tuesday 9 – 19 & Fridays 10-17 , entry is free for students & artists, 1 JD for Jordanians & 3 for non residents.

Go & discover the deepest point in your self!