Posts Tagged ‘outspoken’

Outspoken Highlights

Curated by Eckhard Thiemann, IDFB 2010’s Outspoken Weekend saw an array of new performances, talks and workshops by Arab artists from Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Morocco.

The weekend kicked off with a diverse Triple Bill at The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, featuring works from Ahmed Khemis, Salah El Brogy and Muhanad Rasheed (Iraqi Bodies). We managed to catch up with Ahmed and Salah to have a chat about their work and a bit about their dance history.

Next up, we welcomed The Assassination of Omar Rajeh, a piece covering the political killings of journalists in Lebanon. Dancer/choreographer Omar Rajeh of Maqamat Dance Theatre talks about his work in the video below:

A Double Bill at Ikon Eastside featured Meryem Jazouli’s Kelma (The Word), based on the life and poems of famous Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, followed by Iraqi Bodies’ Insomnia, created in Iraq in 2005.

Aataba (The Threshold) was performed at The Patrick Centre and below, Moroccan choreographer Taoufiq Izeddiou talks about this work.

Nacera Belaza’s Le Cri, a physical and emotional tour de force and combined Arabic chanting, Maria Callas vocals and disco beats, and Les Sentinelles , an exclusive preview prior to its premiere in Paris, brought the weekend to a thrilling close.

To see the photos, visit the IDFB Flickr Page or join us on Facebook.

Our IDFB Outspoken Weekend was supported by The British Council. It was also one of the outstanding projects granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games. Find out more about the Inspire Mark here.

Faith in dance

Dance has always played an important part in religious celebrations and, whilst religion isn’t necessarily a strong theme in the IDFB 2010 programme, its influence is present in several of the performances taking place over the remaining weeks.

Sutra by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui/Sadler’s Wells London, 28 April

The monks that feature in Sutra at The Rep tonight (and last night) come from the Shaolin Temple identified by China’s State Council as being the key national Buddhist Temple. There, they follow a strict Buddhist doctrine with Kung fu & Tai Chi forming part of their daily regime.

Outspoken Weekend, 29 April – 2 May

Supported by the British Council, this weekend, IDFB 2010 presents a range of work from Arab artists, curated by Eckhard Thiemann. Some of the works to be performed over the weekend explore politics and society in parts of the world where religion exerts a strong influence.

Gnosis by Akram Khan Company, 7 & 8 May

Kathak was a form of dance used by northern India’s nomads to tell stories from the Hindu scriptures. Those stories are still told in that way and , on 7 and 8 May, you can see Akram Khan Company’s performance of Gnosis at the Town Hall. The final act in particular has been informed by the story of Gandhari from the Mahabharata.

Our Outspoken weekend is one of the outstanding projects granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games. Find out more about the Inspire Mark here

Outspoken Weekend

The Assassination of Omar Rajeh | International Dance Festival Birmingham

Outspoken is programme of new performance from Arab artists (most of which have never been seen in the UK before), curated by Eckhard Thiemann and taking place at The Patrick Centre and Ikons Eastside from Thursday 29 April to Sunday 2 May.

The descriptions for each of the performances are strewn with adjectives like emotional, daring, controversial, personal and dramatic, and the programme looks sure to deliver dance with a message. Here’s what to expect:

Thursday 29 April

  • Triple Bill featuring pieces by Muhanad Rasheed – Iraqi Bodies (Iraq), Ahmed Khemis (Algeria, Tunisia, France) and Salah El Brogy (Egypt)

Friday 30 April

Saturday 1 May

Sunday 2 May

Other activities as part of the programme include talks on Exile and Migration, dance in Lebanon and the challenges and opportunities for Arab dance artists, a workshop with Ahmed Khemis, Taoufiq Izeddiou and Meryem Jazouli in conversation and the film Dancing Under Crossfire.

Click the links above for further information and to buy tickets. A weekend pass which gives access to all of the events is available for just £30. Our Outspoken weekend is one of the outstanding projects granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games. Find out more about the Inspire Mark here.