Plan Your Visit: Dance Petra

Calvin College has designed a wealth of events around Petra so that visitors to this world-class exhibition can experience both traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern dance. At "Mezze and Music," the dancing will be accompanied by an assortment of Middle Eastern mezze, or hors d’oeuvres. In July the Grand Rapids Ballet Company will premiere a custom-choreographed Petra ballet.

Petra Grand Finale is August 13
Grand Prize Drawing: Trip for Two to Jordan!

Calvin College has offered a whirlwind of events - culinary and musical evenings, a family festival and even a ballet - to complement the Petra: Lost City of Stone... continue »

Past Events

Mezze and Music

This event will give you a taste of the food and culture of the Mediterranean. You will enjoy our mezze, (Arabic for hors d’oeuvres) — a plethora of substantial Mediterranean foods — as well as two hours of traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern singing and dancing.

Chef Patrick Mitchell is planning such standard fare as hummus and pita chips of course, but also such delicacies as marinated mushrooms, artichokes, dried fruit and nuts, assorted cheeses, olives and stuffed grape leaves as well as things like spanikopita (phyllo dough filled with sauteed spinach and onions mixed with feta cheese, eggs, and seasonings served with tzatziki sauce) tabbouli salad and stuffed tomatoes. Finally there also will be a carving station which will feature carved roast beef with garlic, mint, and mediteranean herbs, and also available will be roasted chicken skewers seasoned with cinnamon, regional herbs and spices and served with an aromatic harissa sauce.

Entertainment for June 17 includes the Sharq Trio/Turbo Tabla from Boston and belly dancer Azziza Salem from Detroit.

The Sharq Trio's musical repertoire consists of suites and songs from the Andalusian period, up until modern Egyptian classical music of the mid 1900's. Although it is classical music, the energy level is high due to aggressive percussion and imaginative instrumental improvisation.

The group consists of Arab-American who specialize in traditional Arabic music, as it was performed for hundreds of years in the royal courts, art houses and concert halls of past Arabic kingdoms.

The Sharq's founder and director, Karim Nagi Mohammed (Cairo), teaches Arabic Music at the New England Conservatory.

Belly dancer Azziza Salem currently lives in Detroit. She has performed in Egypt and Turkey's major banquet halls. Her performance is very tasteful and she employees traditional and contemporary moves. Azziza will provide a half-hour performance at the Mezze and Music event on June 17.

Aug. 5: Entertainment by Emad Batayeh, a rising Jordanian singer from Detroit, Michigan. For more information, visit www.emadbatayeh.com

At the second Mezze and Music, on August 5, the menu is still to be determined but the entertainment will be by Emad Batayeh, a rising Jordanian singer from Detroit, Michigan.

Both events will be held in the Sultan's Tent at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College from 8 to 10 p.m. Price is just $30 for adults and $20 for children between the ages of 5 and17 and that includes an exhibition ticket voucher. Call (616) 526-7800 or 1-800-PETRA05 for tickets.

Lodging Packages:

Package for two persons:
1st night: $135 (plus taxes); additional nights $85 per night (plus taxes). Includes two tickets to the exhibition and the Sultan's Tent, normal rates apply for additional tickets.

Package for a family of four:
1st night $185 (plus taxes); additional nights $85 per night (plus taxes). Includes four tickets to the exhibition and the Sultan's Tent, normal rates apply for additional tickets.

Scheherazade / Petra ballet performances

Fine Arts Center
July 21 to 23, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

$30 (includes exhibition ticket voucher).

The performance will include a brand new piece! A world-premiere ballet dance choreographed by the Grand Rapids Ballet Company exclusively for the Petra: Lost City of Stone exhibition.

Call (616) 526-6282 for tickets.

Lodging Packages:

Package for two persons:
1st night $135 (plus taxes); additional nights $85 per night (plus taxes). Includes two tickets to the exhibition and ballet performance, normal rates apply for additional tickets.

Package for a family of four:
1st night: $185 (plus taxes); additional nights $85 per night (plus taxes). Includes four tickets to the exhibition and ballet performance, normal rates apply for additional tickets.

Zaman Ya Petra (Petra: Once Upon a Time) Premiere

Noto's Old World Italian Dining
660 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Tuesday, April 12th

Punch at 6:30 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m.

Entertainment: Al-Arz Lebanese Art Group

$75/person (includes exhibition ticket voucher)
Call (616) 526-7800 or 1-800-PETRA05 for tickets

Al-Arz will present a Petra Operetta that will include a variety of Bedouin dances, line dances, debkeh dances, and dances from the Rahbani brothers’ musical Petra. Al-Arz Lebanese Art Group of Ottawa, Ontario, is devoted to the creation, advancement and dissemination of Lebanese dance in Canada, particularly in the National Capital Region. Brought to life in 1976 as the foundation of the Al-Arz Lebanese Art Group, it is recognized as North America's leading Lebanese dance ensemble. The group enjoys accolades for its repertoire of original dance creations and dynamic formations that embrace traditional folk styles but cross the boundaries of inherited movement, revealing a unique form of dance expression for North Americans.

Petra Family Festival

Prince Conference Center, Sultan’'s Tent
Saturday, May 7th, Noon — 8 p.m.
Schedule of events »

Mohamed Shahin, the Whirling Dervish, will be dancing through the day to traditional music.

$15/adult; $12/children between the ages of 5 and 17 (includes exhibition ticket, Middle Eastern meal catered by Pita House in the Sultan's Tent and one complimentary Polaroid photo per family taken in the "Dress Petra" photo booth). Package for four persons (two adults and two children): $50.

This festival is designed to bring Petra: Lost City of Stone to life by offering a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. We will bring the Middle East to West Michigan!

A host of vendors will provide Middle Eastern goods, souvenirs, jewelry, music, books, and even non-perishable groceries. There will be stations of all types — henna art, caricature, and face painting for children — as well as dance and photography stations. Middle Eastern entertainers will demonstrate group debkeh dances, solo dances, belly dances, drum performances, singing and juggling. And a whirling dervish will perform his art on stage.

View the schedule of events »

Call (616) 526-7800 or 1-800-PETRA05 for tickets.

Lodging Packages (May 6th and 7th only)

Package for two persons:
1st night $110 (plus taxes); additional nights $85 per night (plus taxes). Includes two tickets to the exhibition and the Sultan's Tent, normal rates apply for additional tickets.

Package for a family of four:
1st night $135 (plus taxes); additional nights $85 per night (plus taxes). Includes four tickets to the exhibition and the Sultan's Tent, normal rates apply for additional tickets.

Events Calendar »