DANCING IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A SERIES OF LECTURES

To provide students with an opportunity to learn about and express different points of view on dance in the current geopolitical context, a series of conferences will be held throughout the session with artists from the Middle East. Hosted by teacher Frédérique Doyon, these talks with the student community aim to raise awareness of Middle Eastern dance practices, as well as learning more about each individual’s artistic journey.

Many thanks to artists Nasim Lootij, Hoor Malas, Charlie Prince and Mohanad A. Smama, who generously agreed to share their testimonies, opening up the discussion and offering a broader vision of engaged art.

PROGRAMMING

• Charlie Prince (Lebanon) – February 2024
Conference open to the EDCM student community and faculty

• Nasim Lootij (Iran) – March 2024
Conference open to the EDCM student community and faculty

• Hoor Malas (Syria) – April 2024
Conference open to the EDCM student community and faculty

• Mohanad A. Smama (Palestine)

– March 19th, 2024 – Conference open to the EDCM student community and faculty

– March 22nd, 2024, 6-7 pm at EDCM: Conference open to the EDCM student community and faculty. Fundraising event open to the general public: presentation of the artist’s video dances, reading of the artist’s answers to questions submitted by students.

The public is invited to support the artist, currently based in the Gaza Strip, by making a donation via a fundraising campaign. All donations will be forwarded to Mohanad A. Smama. The public can make an online donation.

Update April 5, 2024:
As the donation campaign initiated by EDCM has come to an end, we suggest that people wishing to support the artist contribute via this platform.

Mohanad A. Smama is a Palestinian performer and choreographer who studied at the Faculty of Physical Education in Gaza City, and one of the pioneers of contemporary performing arts in the Gaza Strip. From 2007, he has been part of the urban dances community, and later on he founded a collective dancing team in Gaza, called ‘’Hai Team for contemporary arts’’. Works to enhance the cultural and artistic scene in Palestine and build a cultural bridge between different cultures through contemporary arts.

‘’Maybe it’s a light, maybe it’s a door, maybe it’s a way. Maybe it’s a dream, maybe it’s someone we love. We used to translate many ideas through our work in Gaza. There is no longer a place for art, but all places will be for art and life. We must continue.’’ – Mohanad A. Smama

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Une publication partagée par Mohanad A. Smama (@mohanad.a.smama)

Credits: Nasim Lootij (photo: Kiasa Nazeran) | Hoor Malas (photo: Enas Mehrez) | Charlie Prince (photo: courtesy of the artist) | Mohanad S. Smama (photo : courtesy of the artist)