Jordan- Royal Cultural Centre to host Jerash Festival activities  

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) The Royal Cultural Centre (RCC) will host the rest of Jerash Festival's activities during the holy month of Ramadan, according to RCC Director Mohammed Abu Summaqa.

Noting that iftar, when people break their day-long fast, will be around 7:45pm, he said concert goers will find it difficult to head to the ancient Roman city of Jerash to attend cultural activities straight after the meal.

Abu Summaqa, who is a member of the festival's management committee, told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday that the RCC will be more convenient and events will begin at 9:00pm.

The RCC will host the festival programmes, which was launched in 1981 but suspended for four consecutive years, from August 4 until its conclusion on August 8, he said, adding that the activities include poetry recitals and performances of Islamic songs (anasheed) and Sufi music.

Saturday was the last day for activities in Jerash's north and south theatre, where several local artists performed yesterday.

Describing the festival as successful, Abu Summaqa said large numbers of visitors attended various activities, noting that the cultural event attracted more than 5,000 visitors a day.

"Najwa Karam's concert, which was held in the south theatre on Thursday, saw a record audience as it attracted over 5,000 fans," he told The Jordan Times.

The Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, which started on July 20, hosted prominent Arab singers and artists this year, such as George Wassouf from Syria, Melhem Barakat from Lebanon, Nabeel Shail from Kuwait, Omar Kheirat from Egypt and Metab Saqqar, Nahawand, Hani Metwasi and Hussein Salman from Jordan.

Dance troupes also took part in the festival, including Enana from Syria, Al Jeel Al Jadeed Club for Circassian Folklore from Jordan, the Galata Mevlevi Ensemble from Turkey, the Alasheqeen Band from Palestine and the Spanish Ballet of Murcia.