Elie Akouri
Elie Akouri the Teacher, choreographer, Costume Designer, former School Co-Ordinator, and Founder of the Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Dance Group, was born in Lebanon in 5th 2nd 1953 and immigrated to Australia in 1973. His then adventurous spirit had profound influences on the state of the Folklore-dance art in Australia and overseas, portraying the beauty of the Lebanese Folkloric Dance with its rich heritage and culture. These influences on the state of the Folkloric –dance art in Australia and overseas, portraying the beauty of the Lebanese Folkloric Dance with its rich heritage and culture. These influences of challenge and struggle, and persistence ultimately lead to accomplishment.He has not only inherited the past realm of Phoenician Artistry but has expressed the represent state of the Lebanese identity through this “group art thinking”. The representation of this traditional art of the Folkloric dance has been an end goal.
Six months after his arrival Elie embarked upon his initial Australian performance. The Arabic play entitled “A father’s Mistake,” was Elie’s first written production. The play was performed in Granville, was the first Arabic Dance theater of its kind in Australia. In 30 / 3 / 1977 Elie founded the Cedars OF Lebanon Folkloric Group and went on in 1983 to establish the first Lebanese club named The cedars of Lebanon Theater Restaurant Bankstown which operated until 1986.
Elie Akouri provides various audiences with Lebanese traditional entertainment and cuisine. As a teacher of the unique folkloric dance, Elie has had a long lasting impact on the Australian-Lebanese community’s artistic dance flavour and has continuously contributed to the formation and development of this art form.
During his long established campaign of promotion and leadership of folkloric art form the “Dabki”, in a variety of settings, Elie has taught hundreds of youths and has bee a catalyst behind many performances in numerous venues. The traditional act of raising of the Australian and Lebanese flags with each and every performance has been enacted in schools, weddings private and public functions, commercial centres, carnivals, and festivals, both nationally and internationally. The specialist performances have also taken place at traditional Art venues, the likes of which include the Australian icon, Opera House and Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
Not only has Elie Akouri used his art as an influential tool of multicultural artistic integration, but also as an instrument of humanitarian and charitable ends. The vast array of philanthropic causes have included televised Telethons aimed at improving conditions prevailing in the disabled communities within Lebanon and Australia and other programs aimed at alleviating the plight of the overseas orphans and under-privileged children.
Elle’s efforts have earned him an achievement award from the Arab Heritage League in Australia for his long-standing service to the cause of multi-cultural arts development this Teacher, choreographer, costume-designer and founder of the Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric group. Elie migrated to Sydney, Australia in 1972.
A few months after his arrival to Australia, Elie wanted to share the “ Beauty and Richness” of Lebanon’s Folklore with the Australian and Lebanese community. Besides promoting the Lebanese Folklore throughout Australia, Elie has founded The Cedars Of Lebanon Folkloric Group, He has also taught hundreds of children and teenagers, the Lebanese Dabki (folkloric dances), in different school, community workshops and gatherings.
Elie Akouri the Teacher, choreographer, Costume Designer, former School Co-Ordinator, and Founder of the Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Dance Group, was born in Lebanon in 5th 2nd 1953 and immigrated to Australia in 1973. His then adventurous spirit had profound influences on the state of the Folklore-dance art in Australia and overseas, portraying the beauty of the Lebanese Folkloric Dance with its rich heritage and culture. These influences on the state of the Folkloric –dance art in Australia and overseas, portraying the beauty of the Lebanese Folkloric Dance with its rich heritage and culture. These influences of challenge and struggle, and persistence ultimately lead to accomplishment.He has not only inherited the past realm of Phoenician Artistry but has expressed the represent state of the Lebanese identity through this “group art thinking”. The representation of this traditional art of the Folkloric dance has been an end goal.
Six months after his arrival Elie embarked upon his initial Australian performance. The Arabic play entitled “A father’s Mistake,” was Elie’s first written production. The play was performed in Granville, was the first Arabic Dance theater of its kind in Australia. In 30 / 3 / 1977 Elie founded the Cedars OF Lebanon Folkloric Group and went on in 1983 to establish the first Lebanese club named The cedars of Lebanon Theater Restaurant Bankstown which operated until 1986.
Elie Akouri provides various audiences with Lebanese traditional entertainment and cuisine. As a teacher of the unique folkloric dance, Elie has had a long lasting impact on the Australian-Lebanese community’s artistic dance flavour and has continuously contributed to the formation and development of this art form.
During his long established campaign of promotion and leadership of folkloric art form the “Dabki”, in a variety of settings, Elie has taught hundreds of youths and has bee a catalyst behind many performances in numerous venues. The traditional act of raising of the Australian and Lebanese flags with each and every performance has been enacted in schools, weddings private and public functions, commercial centres, carnivals, and festivals, both nationally and internationally. The specialist performances have also taken place at traditional Art venues, the likes of which include the Australian icon, Opera House and Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
Not only has Elie Akouri used his art as an influential tool of multicultural artistic integration, but also as an instrument of humanitarian and charitable ends. The vast array of philanthropic causes have included televised Telethons aimed at improving conditions prevailing in the disabled communities within Lebanon and Australia and other programs aimed at alleviating the plight of the overseas orphans and under-privileged children.
Elle’s efforts have earned him an achievement award from the Arab Heritage League in Australia for his long-standing service to the cause of multi-cultural arts development this Teacher, choreographer, costume-designer and founder of the Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric group. Elie migrated to Sydney, Australia in 1972.
A few months after his arrival to Australia, Elie wanted to share the “ Beauty and Richness” of Lebanon’s Folklore with the Australian and Lebanese community. Besides promoting the Lebanese Folklore throughout Australia, Elie has founded The Cedars Of Lebanon Folkloric Group, He has also taught hundreds of children and teenagers, the Lebanese Dabki (folkloric dances), in different school, community workshops and gatherings.
History OF CLFG
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group has been formed in March 30 1977 and specialises in the Lebanese Folklore mostly known as the “Dabki Dances”.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group has performed in thousands of different venues including: Carnivals, festivals, schools, weddings, shopping centres, private and public functions in NSW
In New South Whales, Wollongong and Canberra. Interstate, Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Perth and overseas. Overseas trips, Uruguay, Lebanon.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group received the Queen Silver Jubilee Medal, performed at the Popal visit in Sydney, won several Folkloric competitions and was chosen to represent the “ Lebanese Folklore” during the first world wide cultural conference of the Lebanese in Uruguay in 1986. The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group also owned and managed its own “ Theatre Restaurant” for three years where many famous musicals were staged and performed.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group are all from Sydney and vary from 4 – 60 years of age. They have been performing the Lebanese Folklore in Australia promoting “Lebanon’s unique Folklore” which originated hundreds of years ago by the Phoenicians of Lebanon and passed on from generation to generation.
The Phoenicians
With their richness in history, in commerce, arts, culture, and Folklore the Phoenicians became the centre of the world. They also contributed a major role to history, whilst living in the Mediterranean.
Lebanon, which is on 10452 square Kilometre, became the homeland of the Phoenicians.
The Phoenicians and Lebanon the most beloved land of the Mediterranean excelled in all, beauty, love peace, culture, trade, education and civilisation.
Being “lovers of peace, life and discoveries” the Phoenicians introduced the alphabet into the world. When the Phoenicians settled in the land of Lebanon, they brought with them a unique and most beautiful inheritance, the “Lebanese Folklore”.
Years ago, the most exotic unique temples of Lebanon became the landmark of the culture and Folklore around the world. Baalbeck became an international venue for the world’s opera festivals, musicals and performances.
Many other internationally acclaimed venues were founded in Lebanon to accommodated world wide performances.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group has been formed in March 30 1977 and specialises in the Lebanese Folklore mostly known as the “Dabki Dances”.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group has performed in thousands of different venues including: Carnivals, festivals, schools, weddings, shopping centres, private and public functions in NSW
In New South Whales, Wollongong and Canberra. Interstate, Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Perth and overseas. Overseas trips, Uruguay, Lebanon.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group received the Queen Silver Jubilee Medal, performed at the Popal visit in Sydney, won several Folkloric competitions and was chosen to represent the “ Lebanese Folklore” during the first world wide cultural conference of the Lebanese in Uruguay in 1986. The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group also owned and managed its own “ Theatre Restaurant” for three years where many famous musicals were staged and performed.
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group are all from Sydney and vary from 4 – 60 years of age. They have been performing the Lebanese Folklore in Australia promoting “Lebanon’s unique Folklore” which originated hundreds of years ago by the Phoenicians of Lebanon and passed on from generation to generation.
The Phoenicians
With their richness in history, in commerce, arts, culture, and Folklore the Phoenicians became the centre of the world. They also contributed a major role to history, whilst living in the Mediterranean.
Lebanon, which is on 10452 square Kilometre, became the homeland of the Phoenicians.
The Phoenicians and Lebanon the most beloved land of the Mediterranean excelled in all, beauty, love peace, culture, trade, education and civilisation.
Being “lovers of peace, life and discoveries” the Phoenicians introduced the alphabet into the world. When the Phoenicians settled in the land of Lebanon, they brought with them a unique and most beautiful inheritance, the “Lebanese Folklore”.
Years ago, the most exotic unique temples of Lebanon became the landmark of the culture and Folklore around the world. Baalbeck became an international venue for the world’s opera festivals, musicals and performances.
Many other internationally acclaimed venues were founded in Lebanon to accommodated world wide performances.
Cedars Medallion
His Excellency the President of Lebanon Republic, General Michel Aoun, honoured "The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group" in Sydney, Australia, during a ceremony held by the Consulate General of Lebanon Mr Charbel Macaron.
The award presented to “The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group" honours the group’s effort to keep the Lebanese artistic and cultural heritage alive in the hearts of Lebanese people, those of Lebanese descent and non-Lebanese people. It honours all those who migrated from Lebanon to Australia and gives thanks to Australia for opening its doors and hearts to Lebanese migrants, allowing them to continue carrying their cultural heritage.
The goal of the group’s members and its creators is to remind people that Lebanon, our homeland, remains a hub of culture and civilisation, despite the difficult and harsh circumstances that it faces.
The founder of the group, Elie Akouri, is and will remain an example to follow.
Dear ones, it is true that our Lebanon and our people have been experiencing severe suffering for years, but this provides an additional incentive for our brothers, scattered both in Australia and around the world , to show more and more solidarity with our people in the motherland and to help them overcome these difficult circumstances.
Morally and financially, against all odds, Lebanese people spread their wings and fly like a Phoenician bird. In appreciation of the cultural and artistic contributions of "The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group", His Excellency the President of Lebanon Republic, General Michel Aoun, decided to award the Leader of “The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group,” Elie Akouri and the 632 members who have joined the group since 1977 "the National Cedar Medal", thus appointing them the rank of officer.
He entrusted me to present this award, and it is my honour to lead you on this occasion and to extend my warmest congratulations to Elie Akouri and the members of “The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group.”
Consul General of Lebanon
Mr Charbel Macaron
Sydney Australia
Thursday 8th December 2022
The award presented to “The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group" honours the group’s effort to keep the Lebanese artistic and cultural heritage alive in the hearts of Lebanese people, those of Lebanese descent and non-Lebanese people. It honours all those who migrated from Lebanon to Australia and gives thanks to Australia for opening its doors and hearts to Lebanese migrants, allowing them to continue carrying their cultural heritage.
The goal of the group’s members and its creators is to remind people that Lebanon, our homeland, remains a hub of culture and civilisation, despite the difficult and harsh circumstances that it faces.
The founder of the group, Elie Akouri, is and will remain an example to follow.
Dear ones, it is true that our Lebanon and our people have been experiencing severe suffering for years, but this provides an additional incentive for our brothers, scattered both in Australia and around the world , to show more and more solidarity with our people in the motherland and to help them overcome these difficult circumstances.
Morally and financially, against all odds, Lebanese people spread their wings and fly like a Phoenician bird. In appreciation of the cultural and artistic contributions of "The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group", His Excellency the President of Lebanon Republic, General Michel Aoun, decided to award the Leader of “The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group,” Elie Akouri and the 632 members who have joined the group since 1977 "the National Cedar Medal", thus appointing them the rank of officer.
He entrusted me to present this award, and it is my honour to lead you on this occasion and to extend my warmest congratulations to Elie Akouri and the members of “The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group.”
Consul General of Lebanon
Mr Charbel Macaron
Sydney Australia
Thursday 8th December 2022
