After “1001 Nights” show , acclaimed throughout Europe and all over France, notably in the auditorium of “Institut du Monde arabe” (Institute of Arab World), by 35 000 people who succumbed to the explosive and communicative energy coming from this colourful show, Zenzela, the new creation of “1001 Nights Company”® proposes to go on with the travel in heart of the fantastic world of Arabic tales. Zenzela, literally “trembling” in arabic, advocates cultural meetings, sharing, diversity and crossbreeding. Ispahan, Cordoue, Baghdad and Cairo are such imaginary steps of this musical journey, far away from orientalistic clichés. Both vibration and seismic waves, Zenzela is in turn a meeting between Middle Eastern dancing body language and musical arabesques, marked by the coloured crossbreedings of gypsy violin and arabo-andalusian guitar, as well as the subtle exchanges between the ecstatic ney flute and the wild percussions of El Darbak band.More than 50 starry costumes and a dozen of different scenes recreate an atmosphere inhabited by djinns and others genies, a characteristic of Arabic tales. An electric show, festive and stirring which celebrates the famous artistic and choregraphic heritage of “L’orient merveilleux” (Wonderful Middle Eastern). This company of egyptian dance and percussions, present for few years and first known by its show “Alhambra”, have acquired, with the passing representations, an international renown. Thanks to its regular public, the company have not left the medias cold.

“Seven Goddesses of Middle Eastern rythmes, accompanied by four gifted percussionists for a trip in the “Orient merveilleux” (...) Refinement and sensuality, luxury and sensual pleasure (...). A a trip to do with or without flying carpet”, if we refer to a commentary of France Television 3. An expression of Nova magazine will be quoted : “Seven alluring dancers and four feverish musicians...for a guided visit led by darbuka.”We could mention others extracts which bring out the concern for the renewal of a team who never hesitates to call work into profession.

All this innovation comes from Gemma, the thinking and dancing brains of the company. This choregrapher who has been teaching her dance since 1997, is the founder of the “1001 Nights Company” ®. Knowing to disrupt the tradition of Egyptian baladi, she has reached through her creations, to give an unique style to belly dancing, clever proportioning of technique and grace while offering a modernist and exacting vision of this ancestral heritage far away from orientalistic clichés. Nevertheless, even she’s a brilliant indivuality, she plays the collective card, by leaning on a good artistic direction led by Djamel Mellouk and by combining her talents with the ones of her dancers and the percussionists, the violonist Jeena and the flutist from the band El Darbak.

With more than 50 costumes, fabriqued by Thérèse Tisserand, subtle lightings of Stéphane Herzer and a dozen different scenes, “1001 Nights Company” ® recreates the magical, voluptuous and enchanting atmosphere of those stories.

Rollings of hips, curls of pelvis and arabesques of hands play opposite the musicians, changing according to their improvisations and lead us to a festive tour with imaginary stopovers: Samarkand, Alep, Baghdad or Cairo".

Rabah Mezouane, Institut du Monde Arabe Paris

NEW DVD Millle et Une Nuits

Egyptian Rhythm

Egyptian tabla with Djamel Mellouk

"El mizan m'daouar" Oriental Rhythm is round

Discover the basic techniques of Darbouka or egyptian tabla, strikes, ornaments, effects and dive into the rhythm of the oriental music.

Through this method, illustrated with many examples, Djamel Mellouk learning to listen, placement of hands, the development of the sense of rhythm, tempo control and the rules of oriental music, knowledge essential to musicians who want to excel in this art.

The Eastern dancers will refine and develop their musical sensitivity through learning rhythms of the main eastern and understanding of Oriental music.

Beginners will find this magical instrument and advanced can take control through various techniques. This program can be followed in one piece or by chapter for a easy progression.

DVD Mille et Une Nuits Live in La Cigale Paris + CD

Available in FNAC, Alapage

CD Mille et Une Nuits El Darbak

Available in FNAC

CD Alhambra El Darbak

Available in FNAC