Moroccan Spiritual Trance Music Joins Forces With Balkan Dance Music on Stage at Flushing Town Hall

The Mountain Lions and Samir LanGus

Popular “Global Mashup” Series Continues in July When Morocco and The Balkans Join Forces on Stage

— Samir LanGus and the Mountain Lions collaborate in an exciting fusion of talent and cultures —

Flushing Town Hall’s most popular series, the Global Mashups, will continue its summer run with the Morocco Meets The Balkans concert on July 15, featuring Grammy-nominated Moroccan Gnawa master Samir LanGus and southern Balkan dance band, the Mountain Lions. Come early for Gnawa dance lessons and Balkan folk dance lessons from Kristina Vaskys!

The Global Mashup concert series presents a different pairing of artists each month. The show starts with dance lessons, then both ensembles play a set, showcasing traditional music from their distinct countries and cultures, and then the performers jam together for a third collaborative and spontaneous set—to the delight of audiences.

“We are thrilled that the Global Mashups are back for audiences to enjoy once again,” says Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall Executive & Artistic Director. “Our audience members will love hearing the beautiful Moroccan blues from Samir LanGus and the fun dance music from the Mountain Lions.” 

Samir LanGus is a Grammy-nominated musician born and raised in Agadir, Morocco. Music has always been a part of his city’s constant variety of street sounds, from merchants to entertainers and calls to prayer. At an early age, LanGus began learning Gnawa, a traditional, spiritual trance music, from the Gnawa masters of Morocco, especially Maalem Hamid El Kasri.

Mountain Lions plays dance music from the southern Balkans, using a team of two clarinets and one drummer to find a raw, direct beauty that electrifies the dance floor. Clarinetists Peter Hess and Lefteris Bournias come from different musical worlds—Hess from jazz and new music, Bournias from traditional Greek music—but they have each dug deep into the zurna music of the Balkans in order to drive each other to unexpected heights. Drummer Matt Moran is best known for leading the brass band Slavic Soul Party!, but here, he is able to manifest traditional folk dance rhythms in a primal interplay with the dancers.

Kristina Vaskys was first introduced to Balkan folk dancing while performing as a musician with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. She has been dancing for over 20 years, learning from teachers such as Michael Ginsburg and Steve Kotansky. She has also performed with the Bosilek Bulgarian Folkdance Ensemble.

FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS:

SAT., JUL 15, 2023, 7 PM

Global Mashup: Morocco Meets The Balkans

In-Person Tickets: $20/$15 Members, Seniors, Students w/ ID; Day of the Show: $25; Virtual: $5

Flushing Town Hall’s Global Mashup concert series continues throughout the summer. This concert will feature a special collaboration between Grammy-nominated Moroccan gnawa master Samir LanGus, southern Balkan dance band Mountain Lions, and Balkan folk dance lessons from Kristina Vaskys.

Tickets to Global Mashup: Morocco Meets The Balkans are $20 for general admission, $15 for members, seniors, and students, and $25 on the day of the show. To purchase tickets, visit: ​​https://www.flushingtownhall.org/event-detail.php?id=405

For the venue’s full schedule of 2022 Spring and Summer events, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/events

For those unable to attend events in person, Flushing Town Hall has launched Culture Stream. Subscriptions start at $5 per month.

COVID Policy: 

Although, as of March 7, 2022, New York City has relaxed its COVID policies for indoor arts and entertainment events, Flushing Town Hall will maintain its prior policy for the safety of its audiences, artists, and staff. This policy will remain in effect until further notice: Flushing Town Hall requires all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.

Support Global Arts with a Gift Today!

All gifts of $50 or more give you exclusive Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends membership benefits including a Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more! Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/circle-of-friends

Flushing Town Hall is a not-for-profit organization and receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, and New York City Council Members Sandra Ung, Tiffany Caban, Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, Vickie Paladino, Lynn Schulman, and Jessica Won; Howard Gilman Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.

To view current donor lists, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/donor-listings

About Flushing Town Hall

Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Flushing Town Hall is a proud member of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), a collective of 34 nonprofit museums, performing arts centers, historical societies, zoos, and botanical gardens across all five boroughs with a distinct private-public partnership with the City of New York and a commitment to serving all New Yorkers.

Land Acknowledgement:

Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.