Events & Workshops

Middle Eastern Treasures Concert and Feast
Saturday Afternoon, February 29, 2020 in Alameda

Presented by Mary Ellen Donald, nationally acclaimed author, instructor and performer in Middle Eastern percussion for 45 years. Features:

• Arabic Music: Younes el Makboul, violin & vocals; Bouchaib Abdelhadi, out & vocals; Reda Darwish, Darbuka, Faisal Zadan, Riqq (Tambourine)
• Jill Parker: Belly Dance Extraordinaire
• Persian Classical Music: Samandar Dehghani, Tar (String Instrument); and Sina Dehghani, Tombak (Drum)
• Qabila Folkdance Company: Bay Area chapter directed by Shanti Bardot
• A Large Middle Eastern Student Ensemble on Frame Drums & Doumbek, with exciting Finale featuring Belly dancer, Amberetta
• Ample time for audience dancing
  
  Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at door ($10 children under 12) plus a potluck dish. A variety of beverages will be provided. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased at the bar.

Tickets: www.middleeasterntreasures.brownpapertickets.com

Location: Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, 3rd floor. Free parking behind building. There is an elevator from the parking lot. Visit www.alamedaelks1015.org for directions.

Time: 1:30 PM potluck begins and continues throughout the event.

2:00 - 5:15 PM concert

Special Note: We have a long standing potluck tradition at this event. Please bring something scrumptious to add to the feast.

Photos of our belly dancers can be seen at www.facebook.com/maryellendonalddrum

For more details call Mary Ellen at 510-654-DRUM (3786)

Click here for flyer.

Hello Mary Ellen,

WOW!   Your Birthday Bash at Humanist Hall was the most amazing musical feast EVER!  I do not want to forget to thank you ever so much for celebrating your birthday at Humanist Hall!

It was such a fantastic, spectacular, world class, music and dance phenomenon.  The music was so gorgeous.  Your medley, your song about summertime, was the best tribute to summer I've EVER heard.  It was so beautiful and haunting, it gave me goose bumps.  And the belly dancer was out of this world, pure liquid, pure magic.  Your music and song, and her dancing, were all so wonderfully creative and eclectic and captivating -- it was impossibly enjoyable -- hard to describe -- completely fulfilling!

Thank you again!  I have the deepest appreciation for your music!

~ Fellowship of Humanity

Booking

Sittat al Qalb (Women of the Heart)
Mary Ellen Donald: Cymbals, Doumbec, Tambourine and Tar &
Nanna Candelaria: Belly Dance
In an educational and entertaining drum and dance duo! Available for performances in schools K-12 through out the San Francisco Bay Area. Call Young Audiences of California at 415-974-5554 to learn how to book this uplifting presentation for schools in your area!

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Hot Arabic Band For Hire!

Nazir Latouf, from Syria: oud and voice; Mary Ellen Donald: doumbec; and a first rate tambourinist, either Terry Holgate or Susie Goldenstein. A perfect Arabic band for any occasion: private parties, belly dance recitals, world music concerts, Arab weddings and Arabic cultural events. Nazir's extraordinarily rich repertoire spanning the entire Arab world, Mary Ellen's mastery of Arabic drumming and the charismatic, passionate playing of the two of them together make sparks fly and audiences beg for more.

Call Mary Ellen to hire the band that aims to please and does: 510-654-DRUM (3786) Check out sound bites from Nazir's CD "Arabian Passion", elsewhere on this site and video clips from "the Silk Road Experience" DVD also on this site to see for yourself.

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Mary Ellen Donald is available for out of town workshops and shows.  For more information, call Mary Ellen at (510) 654-DRUM (3786) or send e-mail to: maryellen@maryellendonalddrumming.com

Listen to a live performance of Nazir Latouf and Mary Ellen Donald.

To hear a song sample, click on Listen
Ahla Tarik (The Sweetest Path) - Egyptian Melody	Listen	Listen
Oud Taqsim by Nazir Latouf	Listen	Listen
Allah Allah Ya Baba	Listen	Listen