Iraqi Intensive with Assala Ibrahim in Rome | Bellydance | Danza del Ventre

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THE GREEN VEIL – MESOPOTAMIAN DANCES HERITAGE
Assala Ibrahim – Iraqi Dances Intensive – Rome
28 and 29 November 2026 | One Way Gym, Rome

Two days exploring Iraqi dance, music and living cultural heritage.

Marhaba Rome Festival welcomes Iraqi dancer, master teacher and researcher Assala Ibrahim to Rome for a two-day intensive within the Marhaba Academy educational programme.

Taking place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026 at One Way Gym, Via Ariccia 19, in Rome’s Colli Albani neighbourhood, the event welcomes dancers of all levels, including amateurs, dance enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in Iraqi dance and culture.

The intensive continues a journey of study and cultural exchange developed by Maryem Bent Anis, master teacher, journalist, author and researcher specialising in Arab folk dances, and Samira Zenati, Tunisian cultural promoter and renowned fashion designer.

The 2026 edition renews the collaboration with Dr Viviana Vasapollo (Dumaina), archaeologist and dancer, and the partnership with master teacher Shahinaz, a familiar figure from previous editions of Marhaba Rome Festival and a former teacher at Italy’s Accademia Nazionale di Danza.

Assala Ibrahim: Dance, Research and Cultural Heritage

Born and raised in Basra, Assala Ibrahim combines performance and teaching with research dedicated to Iraq’s dance traditions. Her approach connects movement, music and cultural context, helping participants understand both the technique and the traditions behind each dance.

Her work encompasses Raqs el Kawliya, Raqs el Hachaa and several dance forms from southern Iraq. The intensive programme also explores Iraqi Tarab and Hewa/Lewa, bringing further perspectives on the country’s diverse artistic heritage.

A Collaboration Since 2018

The collaboration between Assala Ibrahim and Maryem Bent Anis began in 2018, with the presentation of The Green Veil at the Sala della Protomoteca in Rome’s Campidoglio.

In November 2023, the project returned with an event combining workshops, performances and cultural exploration. The programme included a session at Sapienza University of Rome, in collaboration with Dr Viviana Vasapollo (Dumaina), and featured Iraqi musician Nawaf Al Kaabi.

In 2024, Assala returned to Marhaba Rome Festival by popular demand, presenting her choreographic work alongside dancers who had taken part in the festival’s training program.

The 2026 intensive continues this commitment: learning Iraqi dance directly from its source and recognising dance as an expression of identity, memory and living heritage.

The Green Veil: A Vision of Connection

The Green Veil embodies the image of a veil symbolically connecting the lands of the Fertile Crescent through the art of dance.

Promoted by Associazione Sportiva Culturale Dilettantistica Belly Dance Italy, the project forms part of Marhaba Academy, an educational program dedicated to Arab folk dances. It brings participants into contact with teachers and artists whose knowledge is rooted in the dance traditions of their communities.

At its heart is the heritage carried through movement: gestures, rhythms and forms of expression passed down through generations. The project seeks to preserve this knowledge with the care afforded to an archaeological artefact, while recognising that dance remains a living practice, shaped by the people who embody and share it.

In an increasingly globalised artistic landscape, The Green Veil encourages a deeper understanding of the origins, meanings and social contexts of dance. It supports transmission to new generations while maintaining a connection with the communities from which these traditions emerge.

From Cultural Heritage to Cultural Dialogue

From North Africa to the Middle East, Arab dance traditions reflect a rich diversity of communities, histories and artistic expression. Their movements and music tell stories of migration, exchange and transformation.

The image of a journey—from Mesopotamia along caravan routes to the Mediterranean—guides the project’s vision of connection between peoples, languages and artistic sensibilities. The cultural and musical richness of Al-Andalus provides another point of reference within this vision.

The Green Veil introduces Italian audiences to Middle Eastern and North African cultures through music and dance. It also creates a space for research and exploration for dancers from Italy and abroad who wish to deepen their understanding of Raqs Sharqi and the folk traditions they study.

Each edition focuses on specific geographical areas, encouraging cultural exchange and cooperation in a spirit of peace, acceptance, mutual respect and tolerance.

Event Details and Bookings

The Green Veil – Mesopotamian Dances Heritage
Assala Ibrahim – Iraqi Dances Intensive – Rome

Dates: 28–29 November 2026
Venue: One Way Gym
Address: Via Ariccia 19, Rome – Colli Albani
Organised by: Marhaba Rome Festival
Educational program: Marhaba Academy