Projects

Cheikha Rabia and Esraa Warda both hail from Algeria, but today, they live in opposite corners of the world. Rabia, a renowned singer with over five decades of experience in keeping Bedouin vocal tradition alive, is based in Paris; Warda, a prolific dancer expert in traditional North African dance

forms, lives in New York. When they come together, the diaspora divas provide a glimpse into the disappearing culture of Cheikhat’ and Rai dancers - foregrounding Algerian tradition through a powerful dance and song

performance in which the ancestral and the contemporary find common ground.

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CLICK HERE FOR EPK -  CHEIKHA RABIA & ESRAA WARDA ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT

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VIDEO: Cheikha Rabia & Esraa Warda @ La Fleche D'or Paris

"Rai'na," which translates to "Our Rai," is a dance empowerment weekend that beautifully combines the pedagogy of Algerian Raï dance and the power of interpersonal connection and storytelling. In Arabic, "Rai" signifies "opinion," but in the musical genre, it embodies the singer's blues, carrying a rebellious spirit that pushes societal boundaries around gender, sexuality, and public expression.

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Led by Esraa Warda, the Raï'na dance program immerses participants in the foundational movement vocabulary and rhythms of Raï dance, complemented by creative activities that foster joy and storytelling within the community. Throughout the weekend, we passionately express "Rai'na" or "Our Rai" through movement and art, culminating in the creation of a captivating choreography over the three-day experience.

The Chaâb Lab, meaning "The People's Lab," is a NYC-based music and dance ensemble dedicated to preserving the rich musical traditions of North African peoples. Founded by Algerian dancer Esraa Warda, the collective serves as a bridge, using North African music to connect with the NYC music scene and create connections with other African-rooted musical traditions.

 

The collective has a reoccurring series "Maghreb Movement Lab" a monthly dance intensive series of Algerian dance and drum workshops and cultural lectures at Mark Morris Dance Company in Downtown Brooklyn.

Experience the union of 2 Algerian divas: Fella Oudane, powerhouse singer and darbouka virtuoso, and Esraa Warda, spirited dance artist, in an electrifying performance presenting Algerian music in feminine force. Fella Oudane, hailing from Bab-El-Oued, Algiers, gained fame through duos with Cheb Nasro and upholds traditional Algerian music, including Kabyle, Assimi, and Rai, even from her base in Los Angeles.

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CLICK HERE FOR SHOW REEL 

Rhythmology is a CD jam packed with North African rhythms designed as an educational tool for musicians, dancers, and rhythm learners interested in enriching their knowledge about North African music. This CD can be used to develop a rhythmically conscious ear and practice your dance footwork, clapping, and drumming, as well as learn names of rhythms and specify the countries of origin. As producers of this project, Esraa Warda and Salim Beltitane felt the need to create an honest, original, and historical North African music tool due to the lack of resources created, especially by North African people.

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www.rhythmologycd.com 

For info email :Rhythmology.cd@gmail.com

Percussionist: Salim Beltitane 

Design by Studio AKAKIR

Produced by Esraa Warda during the COVID-19 Pandemic, "Un Seul Hero, Le Peuple" is a virtual festival of Algerian dance/drum workshops, live concerts, and panel discussions by renowned women artists around the Algerian diaspora who embrace people power, revolution in arts, and cultural work as resistance. 

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The 1st edition in 2021 hosted powerful Algerian women artists around the world, such as Amel Zen, Souad Asla, Amel Tafsout, Dr. Melyssa Haffaf, Sarah el Hamed, and Hayat Amar.

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For details on the programmation of the past edition: click here