Keep it in the family

The Knights Of The Moon is the new Caracalla show being staged at the Casino du Liban. The typical Caracalla play, which opened at the beginning of January, features dance, of course, music and costumes, designed by the troupe founder Abdul-Halim Caracalla.

It is choreographed by Abdul-Halim's daughter, the famous Alissar Caracalla, and directed by none other than Ivan Caracalla, Alissar's brother and Abdul-Halim's son.

There is one more Caracalla involved in the play: Omar Caracalla, Abdul-Halim's brother and Alissar and Ivan's uncle. His solo, lasting several minutes, sees him dancing the Lebanese dabke in the Baalbeck style, the home city of the Caracalla family.

For this show, Caracalla chose not only to have its dancing troupe on the stage but also famous Lebanese actors and singers such as Hoda, Elie Choueiri, Joseph Azar and Simon Obeid. Lyrics and poems are by Talal Haidar and the music is by Iranian composer Mohammad Reza Aligholi.

A team of foreign experts and artistes worked on the show, including Ezio Frigerio as set designer and Alan Burrett in charge of lighting. Plus, dozens of Russian artistes are also dancing with the troupe.

Financed by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the play, is truly international.

It tells the story of an old and wise king who had a son. One day, a gipsy woman is blamed for casting a spell on the ruler's son, who falls very ill. She is condemned to be burned as a witch. The gipsy woman's daughter then swears to avenge her mother's death and kidnaps the king's son. She then escapes and raises him as her own son.

Evaluating the work, Abdul-Halim Caracalla said: "Knights Of The Moon is a complete piece of art. It has an international stage language. The work takes its roots from our Arab environment and the authenticity of our people. It gives a bright image of our Arab traditions."

In 1968, Caracalla founded what would evolve into the first and most prominent dance theatre of the Middle East, creating a unique language in dance with a style based upon the Graham disciplines blended with the identity of Arabic cultural heritage.

Caracalla dance theatre has since performed in the most reputable theatres and cities across the word, from the Kennedy Centre and Carnegie Hall to Sadler's Wells in London, the Americas, Middle and Far East.

Fayrouz in Damascus

Lebanese diva Fayrouz will perform on stage in Damascus on January 28 as part of a series of events organised to celebrate Damascus as the cultural capital of the Arab world 2008.

Fayrouz will be on stage for six nights in a row performing her musical play Sah Al-Nom.

Sah el-Nom. In the musical, Fayrouz plays the role of Kronfol, a simple character who fights against injustice. Other Lebanese artistes perform in the play, including Antoine Kerbaj and Elie Choueiri.

The show, by the Rahbani brothers Assi and Mansour, was first presented in 1970 in Baalbeck festival. It was more recently presented in Beirut in December 2006 and a few months ago it was staged in Amman.

Syrine acts with Omar Sharif

Lebanese model, singer and actress Syrine Abdelnour is set to fly to Cairo to continue shooting the movie Al Moussafer (The Traveller) in which she co-stars with international Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.

The filming is expected to last a month in Egypt. Syrine will then return to Lebanon where she will start putting her voice to the music of eight songs due to be released on her third album.

The album will see her collaborating with several poets and composers such as Rami Ayach, Nabil Abou Abdo, Marwan Khoury, Ziad Borji, Jean Saliba and Tamer Ali.

Life is beautiful

Arab fans will soon see sexy Lebanese singer Roula Saad on TV, not singing in a video as usual but hosting a TV show called Al-Hayat Hulwa (Life is beautiful). The programme will be broadcast on the satellite channel Al-Hayat, which will be launched at the beginning of February.

During the programme, Roula will host a number of stars. She will also present a game featuring two opposing groups, one of guys and of girls.

The blonde singer will speak in the Lebanese and the Egyptian accent during the programme. Four episodes have already been filmed with artists Iwan, Dalia Al-Bahri, Mona Chalbi and Mustapha Chaaban.

Saber's new video

Tunisian singer and composer Saber Rubai chose Lebanon to shoot his new video, Daket Bik. The song is taken from his new album Ghorba produced by Rotana.

The video, directed by Lebanese artist Said Marouk, was shot between the mountains of Deir al-Qamar and Kaslik on the coast. In it, Saber plays the role of a young romantic lover.

The singer is just back from the Palestinian territories where he sang on stage several times. During his trip, he also met Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Rubai will soon record a new song with the Gulf accent. Entitled Ah Ya Bey, it is written by Mishab Al Anzi and composed by Issam Kamal.

Singer Adam shot

Young Lebanese singer Adam was injured in a drive-by shooting just before the New Year, it has emerged. Adam was in the Verdun district of Beirut, three nights before New Year's Eve, and was leaving his car to meet a friend when a dark vehicle came towards him.

One of the car's occupants shot at Adam three times, wounding him in the leg. He was taken to hospital and treated for his injuries but still managed to perform at two Lebanese hotels on New Year's Eve. He arrived to stage on crutches and, understandably, spent most of his time singing in a chair.

Adam has a reputation of being a bully himself. He is the ex-husband of singer Amar, a Haifa lookalike, who has accused him of shooting at her several times in the past as well as beating and mistreating her. Amar even went to the police once which resulted in Adam and his father being interrogated.

Adam, however, told the press he has no enemies, but he promised to change his lifestyle and has vowed to employ bodyguards from now on.