A new solo creation, choreographed and performed by Omar Rajeh, that takes us into his autobiographical and choreographic universe. In this piece, the performance explores the moment of sharing past experiences and rebelling against the freezing of time. The dancing body creates its own rules, gives itself a structure, and according to its own inspirations, as an act of hope, opposes ontological structures and the dualism that tends to reduce all human dynamics to normality or fear. Dance is not for us is an open window into Omar Rajeh’s past. A man alone on stage, at the mercy of everyone, tells in dance form his intimate past, the moment when he chose dance in a country emerging from civil war, destruction, death, and loss. Dance survives a past that no longer exists, made of images that vanish and at the same time deceive. For the choreographer and performer of himself, dance is the most revolutionary, provocative, and direct act to bring back images, meanings, emotions, people, and happy moments from a past that seems to have been forgotten by the world.
DANCE IS NOT FOR US
CIE MAQAMAT (FR - LB)
10 June 2025 21:00 Theme - Political Body
OFFICINE CAOS Piazza Eugenio Montale, 18a, TorinoOMAR RAJEH. Omar Rajeh founded the company Maqamat Beit El Raqs in 2002 and the BIPOD festival (Beirut International Platform of Dance) in 2004, creating an important international dance platform that offers a rich program of performances, workshops, conferences, and meetings. In 2020, he moved the company to Lyon, receiving the prestigious recognition of the French Ministry of Culture as Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contribution to culture. With a degree in Theater from the Lebanese University and a Master’s in Dance Studies from the University of Surrey, Rajeh has signed over twenty choreographies, exploring dance as a means of asserting presence beyond everyday life. He co-founded the Masahat Dance Network, a dance network connecting Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan, promoting collaboration between Arab countries. Additionally, he established the Moultaqa Leymoun platform to offer opportunities to emerging or established artists from the Arab world. Together with Maqamat, Omar Rajeh creates bridge choreographies capable of crossing the Mediterranean, linking the European world with the Arab world.
Concept, scenography e choreography Omar Rajeh
Co-Creation Mia Habis
Dramaturgy Peggy Olislaegers
Musical composition Joss Turnbull & Charbel Haber
Lighting design e Technical director: Christian François
Administration Sergio Chianca
Coordination Amina Onsy
Special thanks CND à Lyon, Sima Performing Arts-Alserkal Avenue, Amadeus – école de danse et de musique
With the support of DRAC Auvergne Rhône-Alpes
With the support of Fondazione Nuovi Mecenati – Fondazione franco-italiana di sostegno alla creazione contemporanea
Artist recognized by the French Ministry of Culture “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”
REGIONAL PREMIERE
durata 60'
