Images of the Middle East.

12 Aug-20 Sept 2006. Music, theatre, dance, film, literature and art from the Middle East come to Copenhagen as part of a travelling cultural festival which is to visit 9 other Danish cities during 2006. Opening with a night picnic on the beach by Amager Strandpark (12 Aug, 20.30-24.00), the festival presents over 70 concerts, 13 dance performances and 5 theatre shows. Music highlights include concerts by Algerian Ra singer Cheb Mami (12 Aug at Store Vega), the Anouar Brahem Trio from Tunisia (17 Aug, Copenhagen Jazzhouse), classical Iranian musicians, Hossein Alizdeh & Mahjid Khaladj (19 Aug, Den Sorte Diamant) and Berber blues from Moroccos sheikhat singer Cherifa (9 Sept, Kaleidoskop). Dance shows include The Whirling Dervishes of Damascus (15-16 Aug, Kaleidoskop) and Ziyah Azazi Dervish from Turkey (13-15 Aug, Dansescenen), as well as ancient Arab dance forms from the Upper Nile with Leila Hadda In the Trail of the Ghawazee(19 & 20 Aug, Kaleidoskop). Dansescenen hosts the Lebanese Puppet Theatre (21 Aug) and the Palestine National Theatre performs Jidariyya at Kaleidoskop (11-12 Sept). Art installations featuring mega-prints by artists including Lara Baladi, Tarek Al-Ghoussein and Lalla Essaydi are to transform around a dozen buildings across the Danish capital. Admission Dkk180-free.