Empowered Women International

Empowered Women International presents Neelam Patel
in the powerful and moving one-woman performance

SARI TO SKIN

Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 7-9pm

Convergence

1801 N. Quaker Lane

Alexandria, VA 22302

Advance Tickets: $15 per person or two for $25
Please RSVP by emailing Events@ewint.org and paying for your ticket(s)
through Network for Good (remember to indicate this event in the designation box)

At the Door: $20 per person

Free Parking

Empowered Women International is proud to present local writer and performing artist Neelam Patel in her third solo production, entitled “Sari to Skin.” In this new performance, Patel fuses dance and poetry with storytelling to explore the complexity and confusion of her interwoven Indian American experience. A reception to meet the artist and with the opportunity for Q&A will follow the performance.

Patel’s first solo production was a critically acclaimed and sold out presentation, Sensual Reflections (2006), that The Washington Post called “powerful poetry.”  Reviewer Pamela Squires noted, “Far from bemoaning how difficult it is to be bicultural, [Patel] is energized by it and uses it to break out as an artist in the Western mode.”  Her second show, Stripping Borders was presented in June of 2008 for her Arlington County Grant for Individual Artists.  Both resulted in sold-out performances.

In her performances, Patel challenges herself and the audience to develop a single identity despite conflicting influences that life brings.  Trained in Indian dance, the rhythms of her movement are paired with reflective poetry about everydayliving.  Her words are charged with the vulnerable intimacy of personal relationships, the grand power of feminine sexuality, and the spiritual awakening resulting from deep questioning.

Neelam Patel has performed her unique brand of performance art at dozens of venues in the DC metropolitan area and New York City.  She has appeared in The Vagina Monologues at Cramer Theatre in Manassas, VA, in several short films, and in the pilot for the upcoming ABC series “20 Questions.”  She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University and further training at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory.

This program is made possible in part with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

Well, it was not quite the way we planned it to be, but despite the serious snow and icy roads, we had over 120 guests in attendance. The musical program was exceptional and the fine art by Empowered Women unique.

The 7Sopranos, a local women’s a capella ensemble presented an outstanding, witty and classy performance. If you have not seen the 7Sopranos yet, they are amazing, fun to listen to and a must for all opera and classical music lovers.

Anders Lundegård, a local Swedish classical saxophonist had a breath-taking performance of original and classical saxophone pieces. He was born in Vaxjo, Sweden, studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and received his doctorate in music from Northwestern University. Dr. Lundegård has devoted his career to capturing the original sound.

The Lucia Girls, our traveling Swedish guests presented an enchanting musical program of Lucia songs celebrating centuries-old Swedish yuletide traditions that mark the day of shortest daylight hours and herald the changing season. Lucia is the celebration that takes place in Sweden during the year’s darkest day, on December 13 – the darkest day according to the old calendar, i.e. before 1753.

Lucia, the Queen of Light, wears a white dress with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head. She leads a procession called “Luciatåg” where she is accompanied by several attendants, also dressed in white with candles in their hands. They perform Lucia songs and bring coffee, ginger breads and saffron buns. But most importantly, they bring light amid the long and dark winter. To many, the highlight of Swedish Yuletide is the traditional Lucia procession.

Musical Extravaganza

Celebrating Alexandria’s Sister City, Helsingborg, Sweden

Saturday, January 30 at 4 pm

Convergence
1801 N. Quaker Lane
Alexandria, VA 22302

Free of Charge. Free Parking

RSVP Required

Lucia Girls, Helsingborg, Sweden

Musical Program

4:00-5:30 pm

Lucia Girls, Helsingborg, Sweden

The Seven Sopranos

Alexandria Choral Society

The Swedish Jazz Duo

Bachelor Party, a Quartet from the Alexandria Harmonizers

Reception

Art Presentation

by Empowered Women International

5:30-6:30pm

Naomie Belayneh, Handpainted icons and gifts

Sushmita Mazumdar, Handmade storybooks

The program is sponsored by the City of Alexandria in partnership with the Citizen Assistance Office, Office of the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Alexandria Choral Society, Alexandria Harmonizers, Alexandria Performing Arts Association, Alexandria Singers, and Empowered Women International.

More at 703-746-5588 or www.ewint.org