DETROIT — It was a glorious evening of artistry, color and excitement when the renowned Enana Dance Theater took the stage at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit on June 22 for its U.S. premiere. The performance served as the largest annual fundraiser for the Arab American National Museum, the only institution among America’s 17,500 museums to preserve and celebrate the culture, history and contributions of Arab Americans.

Jehad Mufleh accompanies his dancers. Photo:Keith Tolman.

The 60-member company came all the way from Damascus to make its North American debut in Ontario, Canada at Luminato, the Toronto Festival of Arts + Creativity on June 19, where the dancers received a very warm welcome. The next day they boarded busses and stopped at Niagara Falls to sightsee before heading to Detroit for their first-ever U.S. performance.

“I had never seen a live ballet before, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Sonya Kassis, a Garden City resident. “I was completely blown away. The costumes were exceptional and so beautiful; there were so many costume changes! The speed, the continuous energy and action were remarkable. I really liked the combination of styles, the Arabic and non-Arabic music and dance styles. The dancers’ dedication and passion were very impressive.”

The Arab American National Museum (AANM) had long been interested in inviting the Syrian group to perform at the annual Museum Gala.  Thanks to the Honorary Consul General of Syria in Detroit, Dr. Naji Arwashan, the dream became a reality.

“The whole project was truly a dream come true, because we have been for years discussing and talking about bringing Enana to Detroit,” says Arwashan. “It required a close collaboration, between the Consulate, the Museum, the Syrian community and the Arab American community in general to make this happen.”

Arwashan says the enthusiastic audience of 1,600, comprised of Arab Americans and non-Arabs, was indeed impressed and amazed by what they saw Tuesday evening.

“We were very proud. Syria is very rich and vibrant culturally, and this was a true example of that,” Arwashan said.

Founded in 1990 by noted choreographer Jehad Mufleh, the Damascus-based Enana is the only professional dance troupe in Syria, and features many of the Middle East’s most talented dancers.  The company melds Syrian and Arabic folk tales such as the stories of Zenobia, Queen of the East, and Sindbad with modern choreography rooted in classical ballet. Acrobats, aerial artists and stilt walkers add to the visual poetry. Each performance is a vibrant tapestry of movement, color and sound. The company was named for the Syrian goddess of love, culture, art and the moon. Enana has performed at prestigious arts festivals and venues throughout the Middle East and beyond, with appearances in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, the Ukraine, China, Turkey and India.

On Monday, Enana’s prima ballerina and choreographer, Albina Belova, visited the studios of FOX2 Detroit for an appearance on the morning news show.  The company enjoyed lunch and a tour of the AANM before heading down to the Max M. Fisher Music Center to rehearse. Mufleh and Belova went to Wayne State University in Detroit to give a fun and challenging master class to advanced dance students that included choreography from “Julia Domna,” the piece Enana performed in Toronto and Detroit.

A second-century Roman empress is the heroine of “Julia Domna,” a story of wealth, power and passion. She was the beautiful, well-educated daughter of an influential priest in Emesa, Syria, who married the future Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. As empress, she exerted great power and influence and was a patron of the arts and philosophy. The performance encompassed the Emperor and Empress’ wedding and his demise at the sword of a rival, and ended with a tribute to Arab culture.

Belova danced the title role with poise and charisma, and the entire company earned a standing ovation from the largest-ever audience for an AANM gala.

“It was an unforgettable experience,” says Museum Director Dr. Anan Ameri. “Our hard-working Friends of the Arab American National Museum chaired by Mrs. Wafa Salah, along with the unbelievably talented dancers, the amazing historic venue, and the enthusiastic audience, all combined to create a wonderful celebration of Arab culture and community.”

The annual Museum gala raises thousands of dollars to support Museum programs and services for the next year. It also provides intangible benefits by generating pride and fellowship among Museum supporters, lovers of art and history, and the greater community.

“It was an historical evening that it brought many members from all facets of our community together,” said Warren David, founder and publisher of www.ArabDetroit.com, a provider of digital media to the community. “There aren’t many events in Detroit where you can see an inclusive representation of the Arab American community.”