#minaret
'Omar Rajeh is the best-known choreographer from the Arab world. In #minaret he combines a powerful language of movement with a political message,’ wrote one German critic. #minaret is a powerful indictment of war violence, with dance, live video, Syrian music and an ominous drone.
Tue 9 & Wed 10 July
20.30
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Rabozaal
Dutch premiere
Co-production
60 minutes
No intermission
€30 / 25 / 20 / 12.50
Julidans Young €15
Dancing with a drone in powerful protest against the destruction of Aleppo.
From Beirut, where he leads his company, Maqamat Dance Theatre, and a festival for contemporary dance, Rajeh uses dance to state something about the state of the world. Not that the dance is secondary to the message; artistic mastery and political engagement go hand in hand with the Lebanese choreographer. According to DANSER magazine, Rajeh's dance in contemporary Lebanon is ‘a force to be reckoned with’.
His performances are therefore shown at major international dance festivals throughout Europe. Such as Beytna (previously seen at Julidans and in Internationaal Theater Amsterdam), in which Rajeh's mother prepared a meal for four international choreographers and the audience. A special example of the power of intercultural encounter on stage.
The title of Rajeh's new performance #minaret refers to the Great Mosque in Aleppo, Syrian, which has been watching over the city for nearly 1000 years. As the soul of the city, a stone witness to cultural, social and religious life through the ages. Now the mosque and the city are in ruins.
#minaret is an act of resisting the destruction of one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the world. And against war violence in general. It is also a protest against our dumbness at images of destruction that reach us non-stop through various media. In #minaret the drone that flies over the dancers and films the show is inescapable. ‘A remotely controlled, disruptive, haunting presence. It falls from heaven, but is in human hands. Disaster of the new war gods.’ - Dresdner Nachrichten.
PROGRAMME SHEET
For reasons of sustainability,
Julidans will print less paper programme sheets. You can read the
programme sheet with more information about the performance and your
visit here.
INTRODUCTION 9 & 10 JULI 20:00 - 20:15 | Pleinfoyer
All
performances in Internationaal Theater Amsterdam are combined with an
introduction half an hour before every performance. You will have a
short introduction (15 minutes) on the choreographer, the company and
backgrounds of the performance. We announce the talks on the performance
pages. Free admission.
DI 9 JULI | Talking Together
After the
performance on July 9, Inge Koks and Sonja Augart organize Talking
Together: a discussion about current topics inspired by the performance
but not about the performance. Talking Together is held backstage and
maybe the choreographer and/or a dancer will join the conversation. Sign
up for free will booking your performance tickets.
