WASHINGTON– 16 September 2018: An amusing night was experienced by fans who attended a shared club gig by Egyptian stars, Dina el-Wedidi and Youssra el-Hawary, who are currently touring the United States as part of the cultural exchange program, Center Stage.

In Washington DC'sTropicalia Lounge, both artists performed breathtaking informal concerts with their bands, flaming chants and non-stop cheers that lasted all night. The club gig attracted both Egyptian and Americanaudiences who were enthusiastic to listen to the music played by the sophisticated innovators, and support Egyptian bands. “I found out about this amazing concert sponsored by the Department of State on Facebook, I came here with my friends to support Egyptians in the industry, and it really was a phenomenal experience,” said HananFawzy, an Egyptian living in Washington DC for 30 years. Both bands will be performing at the Kennedy Center in DC on Sunday and Monday, before heading to the next state in their independent tours. The first Egyptian participation in US-sponsored cultural-exchange program Center Stagecomes as part of its fourth edition this year, with three music ensembles from Cairo are set for a month-long individual tours across the US. The public diplomacy initiative launched by the US Department of State in 2012, bringing to American soil a range of 154 artists in 24 ensembles from nine different countries. From Egypt, the bands participating in the fourth season are: Dina el-Wedidi, Youssra el-Hawary and Karkade. Organizing the tour is almost a two-year process of coordination and preparations, said Lisa Booth, the general manager of Central Stage program in an interview with Egypt Today. Booth said that the Department of State firstly propose their preferences of the countries to participate each season, and then nominations come next and aredecided upon by experts in the industry.