Club Arak marks a decade
An institution among Sydney’s LGBTI Arabic community, Club Arak this month celebrates 10 years of parties with a massive anniversary bash on February 18.
The Arak team has spent the past decade cultivating a safe, friendly space for the LGBTI Arabic community, their friends and supporters.
For this landmark party, Arak will expand to cover two rooms, each dedicated to taking revellers on a journey through the music of the Arab world.
In the Main Room, DJ Chadi, winner of the 2006 Mardi Gras DJ Spin-Off competition and one-time resident at Beirut’s Club Acid, will spin a mix of current Arabic pop mixed with a few classics.
In the Arab Tent, DJ Patrick Abboud will mix Arab lounge and chilled electronica in a ‘chilled-out atmosphere of decadence’ where punters can relax with a shisha pipe.
With 16 parties under their belt since 2002, Club Arak organisers have showcased everything from politically charged performance art to Arabic drag shows and choreographed dance performances.
“We’ve always been so excited by the mix of cultures in the crowd at each event,” party organiser Alissar Gazal said.
“There haven’t been two parties ever the same. The venue packs out with sexy Bears, cute twinks, hot butch women, muscle boys, foxy femmes and so many in between.”
Arak started as a community event, and the organisers said it had stayed true to its roots.
“We would have these elaborate house parties playing Arab music and dancing with our lovers in total freedom, the way we couldn’t at a family party,” party co-producer Foufu recalled.
“The Arab world is in a state of revolution at the moment and we want to stand in solidarity with our people — we have this party of survival for them all,” Gazal said.
INFO: Club Arak, Factory Theatre, February 18. Tickets $40 from www.factorytheatre.com.au
