A video compilation from the Stories of the World programme, an official part of the Cultural Olympiad for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Part of the global gathering exhibition at Bexhill Museum and Brighton and Hove Museum.

1 -SHADOWS OF THE ANCIENT EMPIRE
Seven performers open the 'Dance Queens of the Nile' show over a rhythm with a beat in sevens from the music.
Choreography : Serena Ramzy
Dancers : Bonita, Cherie, Sabrynah, Rachel, Maria, Lianna, Saeeda.
Music : 'FROM MEMPHIS TO HELIOPOLIS' from the album ENCHANTED EGYPT by Phil Thornton / Hossam Ramzy

2 - QANUN TAQSIM
Maged Serour recording the Qanun for the 'Enchanted Egypt' sessions. The Qanun (Ka-noon) is a plucked box zither or psaltry of the middle east, North Africa and parts of Asia.
Ancient in origin this modern instrument is distinctive in having small brass levers on each string allowing 1/4 tone intervals to be played.
This performance is the improvised intro ( or Taqsim ) to NEFERTARI'S DREAM from ENCHANTED EGYPT by Phil Thornton / Hossam Ramzy

3 - NAY ON THE NILE
The Nay is the most common Arabic reed flute. Mohamed Naiem is seen here performing a Taqsim on the instrument during a break in recording the album 'Enchanted Egypt'. We spent the evening on a small boat on the Nile in the centre of Cairo, the camcorder picked up a lot of traffic noise which was later removed in the studio and replaced with a gentle wash of electronic sound creating a strange other worldly feel.

4 - SIX DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN
The six daughters of Akhenaton and Nefertiti, known as the 'six daughters of the sun' are depicted here as part of the 'Dance Queens of the Nile' show.
Choreography : Serena Ramzy
Dancers : Serena, Bonita, Sabrynah, Maria, Lianna, Saeeda.
Music : SUNRISE OVER GIZA from the album IMMORTAL EGYPT by Phil Thornton / Hossam Ramzy

5 - YAMMA JATTA
Tribal music from The Gambia.This song is sung in the 'Jolla' tribal language and tells the story of how their tribe sticks together.
Filmed and edited by Jon Mason as part of the 'XamXam' project funded by South East Arts Music : Gibunket Asukatian and Phil Thornton. produced by Phil Thornton and Harvey Summers.

6 - KARIMI NYAM
This song by Musa M'Boob and XamXam evokes the wedding atmosphere from the Serere tribe and the powerfull inpiration of Serere culture. Musa is a master drummer from the Wolof tribe in the Gambia.
Music: Musa M'Boob and XamXam

7 - AWAKENING SPIRIT
Images from around the World.
Filmed by Nick Cope, Phil Thornton and Simon Williams as part of the 'Earthdance Music' project.
Music : 'Awakening Spirit' from THE BUDDHA EXPERIENCE COLLECTION by Phil Thornton & David Roberts.

8 - MILES AWAY
Drepung Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet.
Filmed and edited by Nick Cope.
Music : MILES AWAY from THE BUDDHA EXPERIENCE COLLECTION by Phil Thornton

1 - SHADOWS OF THE ANCIENT EMPIRE
2 - QANUN TAQSIM
3 - NAY ON THE NILE
4 - SIX DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN
5 - YAMMA JATTA
6 - KARIMI NYAM
7 - AWAKENING SPIRIT
8 - MILES AWAY