PRNewswire/ MGM Grand and Dawn Elder WorldEntertainment proudly present the world premiere of Sahra on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the MGM GrandGarden Arena. Sahra is an unprecedented multi-media event celebrating Arabic culture in the MiddleEast and North Africa. Performances and presentations bring together international music and filmcelebrities, Arab film stars and other with the Hollywood's elite, and more than 100 mastermusicians and dancers from 23 countries. In recognition of Universal Children's Day, all profitsfrom Sahra will benefit leading children's charities focused on the Middle East and North Africa(ACCESS and NAAMA). With its ambitious program and bold humanitarian mission, Sahra marks awatershed for Arabic culture in the United States.
International recording stars Khaled, Assala,and Rida Al Abdulla headline the Sahra concert, the crown jewel in a weekend of multi-media eventsthat includes video montages of beloved works by Middle Eastern film celebrities, late-night dancingwith the latest hits in Arabic popular dance music, and much more. The MGM Grand undergoes anArabian makeover for this historic weekend, beginning with spectacularly designed concert stagingcelebrating a stunningly diverse heritage.
Algerian-born Khaled (Cheb Khaled), pioneer and kingof "pop rai" music, makes his long-awaited return to the U.S. Khaled's 1991 hit "Didi" and "Aisha"1996 swept the world and made this homeland icon an international sensation. Collaborations with TheWailers, Santana, Earth Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones and hundreds of others, cementing Khaled'sreputation as one of the world's most moving and powerful vocalists and performers of all time. Hislegacy includes 10 diamond, platinum, and gold albums, as well as the highest-selling Arab album inhistory. Khaled has played to audiences of more than 100,000, and is set to make music history againwith his latest album release "Liberty," and this being the first time in U.S. history anAlgerian/North African artist will headline in Las Vegas.
Assala Nasri has been called the voiceof the Arab world today, and the heir apparent to legendary Arab singer Fairouz. Born in Syria, andraised in a musical milieu, Assala launched her career in 1991 with the release of Law Ta'rafou (IfYou Know). The album had four songs in the classical tarab style, art compositions whose aim is tobring about a shared experience of musical ecstasy (tarab) among listeners. As with so many of thealbums to follow, it included a song for her father. The album was an instant hit with heartbreakingsongs like "Samehtak Ketir (I Forgive You)," which was given to her as a gift from the famouscomposer Sayed Makkawi. A dynamic and charismatic diva with an unmatched vocal range and style,Nasri records and performs worldwide. Having released more than 20 studio albums and more than 40No. 1 hits, and selling more than 20 million albums, it is no surprise her 2008 CD Nos Hala (HalfMood) debuted at No. 1 on Rotana's Top 5 in Egypt and Lebanon, and most of the Arab World. Herappearance at MGM Grand will be her first return to the United States since 2003.
Iraqi Rida AlAbdulla has been singing since the age of eight. Graduating from the Bagdad School of music he beganrecording and performing throughout the region gaining wide popularity and recognized as one of thebest new voice of Iraq. His career was interrupted in 1993 by forced military service, imprisonmentand torture under the regime of Saddam Hussein. Following a daring escape in 1997, Rida relaunchedhis career in Dubai where his first three albums went gold. This year, he released a long-awaitedfourth album "Yom Wa Sana" that breaks new ground in integrating Western and Arabic instrumentation,rhythms and production style. The title single has already climbed the charts to number two afteronly two months of release. Abdulla is noted for his classical and composition style that preservesthe tradition of Iraqi maqam, while delivering poignant lyrics.
Joining these internationallegends on stage will be a host of recognized performers from North Africa, the Middle East, Franceand the United States, including guest appearances by the 11-time GRAMMY Nominated Palestinian oudand violin virtuoso SIMON SHAHEEN and multi-Tele Award-winning Lebanese Choreographer ADAM BASSMAwith his dance company. The evening will also include guest appearances by American celebrities,including GRAMMY-winners K.C. Porter, and GRAMMY-nominated rising star - Def Jam's KARINA PASIAN -as well as a number of noteworthy "surprise" guests. The Sahra concert promises a multi-nationalsummit of brilliant and committed performers, breathtaking performances and a show of unity in thetradition of "We Are the World," and the Live 8 concert, all focused on making a better future forkids.
"We are thrilled to host a unique Middle Eastern concert for such an important cause," saidGamal Aziz, president and chief operating officer of MGM Grand. "This event allows us to continueour tradition of providing a stage for the top names in worldwide entertainment while supportingcharities that assist refugee children in various communities around the world."
In recognitionof Universal Children's Day, all profits from Sahra will benefit two organizations with unmatchedtrack records when it comes to uplifting the lives of Arab children around the world: NAAMAFoundation (National Arab American Medical Association) and ACCESS (Arab Community Center forEconomic and Social Services).
NAAMA was formed in 1975 by a group of physicians in Los Angeleseager to provide help for populations affected by war in the Middle East. Executive DirectorMouhanad Hammami says NAAMA is a "non-profit, non-political, and non-religious" humanitarianenterprise whose current initiatives range from creating a burn unit in Nablus, to establishingpediatric oncology standards in Egypt, serving the needs of Iraqi refugee children in Jordan, andproviding emergency relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the 911 attacks, and the 2008 Gazacrisis. NAAMA's membership of medical professionals of Arabic descent, and its many good works, havemade it one of the most respected charitable organizations operating today.
For the past 35years, ACCESS has been an award-winning social service organization committed to developing andsupporting the Arab-American community. ACCESS initiatives include Detroit's acclaimed Arab-AmericanNational Museum (opened in 2005) and more than 90 programs serving Arab-American communities inseven different locations. The organization's most recent initiative involves creating fitnesscenters to serve the largest population of Arab-descended children in the United States, those inthe Detroit metro area. The focus, once again, is children, in particular preparing them for healthyand productive lives.
Sahra is produced by Dawn Elder who is recognized in theAmerican media landscape for her expertise on the cultural interplay among American, Middle Easternand North African societies. Elder is a composer, producer, director, artist manager, public speakerand creator of more than 1,000 events, including some of the most ambitious cultural festivals andconferences the United States has seen. Elder's wide-ranging achievements are unified by a fiercehumanitarianism and a dedication to the principle that culture - especially music - has a vital roleto play in resolving hostilities between nations, faiths, and ethnic communities.
The MGM GrandGarden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. TheArena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines andstate-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included worldchampionship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar De La Hoya vs. FloydMayweather and George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, EltonJohn, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins,Billy Joel, U2, 'N Sync, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra StreisandMillennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to the annual Academy of Country MusicAwards (ACMA), Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game and the U.S. Open of Motocross.