Artist: Karim Nagi
Art Form(s): Dance & MovementMusic
Artist Statement
Karim Nagi is a life long advocate of the Arab performing arts, and for the embracing of diversity in the American school system. His music and dance provide an uplifting new narrative, representing the ebullient and welcoming nature of Arab & Muslim people. The Arabiqa program arose from the need to counteract stereotypes and prejudicial biases against people from the Arab & Muslim worlds here in America. Whether these biases spawn from media defamation, orientalist caricature, political inequity, or just simple unfamiliarity, Mr. Nagi seeks to familiarize and re-define. Arabiqa has conducted over 400 school assemblies in the USA alone, helping to introduce young audiences to his culture through the joyful and inclusive power of music and dance. If we can play music and dance together, then we can also be friends.
Artist Bio
Karim Nagi is an Egyptian American performing and teaching artist. He specializes in Arab music and folk dance, and has been touring and recording for over 20 years. He has presented on five continents, performed in over 500 schools, recorded 18 albums, conducted 19 Arab Dance Seminars, and written a play. He is a Kennedy Center TAP Teaching Artist, and has a TEDx Talk on how he uses music for both cultural diplomacy and to disrupt negative stereotypes.
