MEIVER, NINA, LAUREN-MICHELLE: dancers
ABOUD AGHA, MARYEM HASSAN, HAYET AYAD: vocals
WALID ZAIRI: bass
BASSAM SABA: nay, oud
NIKOLAI RUSKIN: nay, rababa, oud, qanun, mizmar
KAREEM ROUSTOM: oud
JAMAL SINNO: qanun
BOUJEMAA RAZGUI: nay
EYLEM BASALDI, HANNA KHOURY: violin
MAL BARSAMIAN: oud, clarinet, saxophone
ALAN SHAVARSH BARDEZBANIAN (R.I.P.): oud
Influences
Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian who lives in the USA and travels to Cairo every year. He is trained in classical Arab music with a high sense of authenticity. He continues to perform the traditional Arab repertoire with his group The Sharq Ensemble. TURBO TABLA is a hybrid of this Tradition and modern House Music and Techno.
The dance troupe performs original choreographies of Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance) and Folklore, fused with Hip Hop, Funk, and Spanish styles. View more videos at www.youtube.com/turbotabla.
Bleow are examples of Karim Nagi performing live traditional acoustic music. Below he performes on the Arabic Tabla, Riqq Tambourine, and Sagat/Zill finger cymbals. All his videos can be viewed at www.YouTube.com/turbotabla
TURBO TABLA is the creation of Karim Nagi. He recontextualizes the melodies, rhythms and ecstatic practices of traditional Arab music into a universal urban medium. A true crossover artist, Karim re-imagines his tradition. He captures the old-school esoteric music of his culture and revitalizes it for our generation. Unlike many DJ/Remix artists, Karim is a musician and primary source. He performs the music from scratch with talented fellow musicians. He is completely imformed about the essential Arab music systems (maqam and iqaat) and remains avid in the performance of traditional music.
TURBO TABLA is a dancer's epiphany. Belly dancers from New York to California choreograph to Turbo Tabla songs. It has the magical ingredients: the rolling and sharp pops of the Arabic Tabla, the intoxicating Eastern microtonal melodies, and a techno house groove. Karim has made music for Bellydance Superstars, Bellyqueen, and BellyTwins.
Turbo Tabla has its own performance dance troupe. BELLYDANCE OVERDRIVE includes young and talented dancers, Meiver (Dominican Rep.), Lauren (USA) and Nina (Brazil), along with Karim. The troupe performs solos, duets and trios to Turbo Tabla songs and live music. They wear custom ethno-modern outfits designed by Karim, and perform a perfect concoction of traditional and progressive Arabic dance. They perform as concert opening acts, in dance festivals, headline nightclub events, and conduct dance parties.
It was wonderful to meet you in Fresno the other night! Thank you for sharing your energy and your talent with us. I hope we can meet again someday! :D
Hey Karim your workshop at TF9 was kick as a z. Thankyou so much for your devotion to your art and path. It was fun being a trickster in your class. Peace. Papillon.
