Outspoken is the UK’s first performance season dedicated to new choreography from Arab artists, celebrating a new generation of dancers and choreographers in North Africa and the Middle East creating audacious dance theatre. The programme is part of International Dance Festival Birmingham and is curated by Eckhard Thiemann.
The weekend of performances kicks off on Thursday 29th April at 8pm with a triple bill at The Patrick Centre featuring Muhanad Rasheed – Iraqi Bodies, Ahmed Khemis and Salah El Brogy, followed on Friday 30th April at 8pm by Lebanon’s Omar Rajeh and Maqamat Dance Theatre presenting The Assassination of Omar Rajeh.
Saturday 1st May sees Aataba (The Threshold) by Morocco’s Taoufiq Izeddiou come to the Patrick Centre at 8pm, and a double bill at Ikon Eastside at 6pm, featuring Meryem Jazouli and Muhanad Rasheed – Iraqi Bodies.
Sunday rounds off the Outspoken weekend with Nacera Belaza at The Patrick Centre with Le Cri at 5pm and an exclusive preview of Les Sentinelles at 8pm.
Other activities as part of the programme include a workshop with Ahmed Khemis, talks on Exile and Migration, dance in Lebanon, and the challenges and opportunities fro Arab dance artists, and the film Dancing Under Crossfire at the Pinsent Masons Suite.
