Let’s Talk about Art

Ali Chahrour was born in Beirut, where he studied theatre because no dance programs existed. He later learned Western dance conventions in the Netherlands, Germany, and France, but quickly left these behind. Instead, his reference points and sources of inspiration are the people and culture of his own country, whose forgotten stories he tells. Since 2012, he has therefore situated all his creative work within the Lebanese sociopolitical and religious context. He draws particular inspiration from the Shiite funeral rites practiced by his family, since these allow total expression of the body.

Chahrour combines dance and music in his work and creates a unique aesthetic of the dancing body by working with non-professionals, chosen for the authenticity of their being, their way of moving, and the stories they carry. His aunt, who has appeared in several of his works, including Leila se meurt (MAI, 2016), dances with her son Abbas in Told by my mother. This is the second part of a trilogy about love created in the context of a major economic crisis and the pandemic, following the explosion in the Port of Beirut. It turns dancing into a powerful act of resistance and freedom.

May He Rise and Smell the Fragrance (FTA, 2019) closed the cycle about death created by Chahrour. In Chahrour’s new trilogy in progress, he explores fear as a tool of political control and its impact on the body.

Performing in Arabic, English and French she collaborated with a variety of stage directors, filmmakers, choreographers and musicians including Pascal Rambert, David Bobee, Ali Chahrour, Omar Elerian, Sulayman Al Bassam, Yousry Nasrallah, Ossama Mohammad, Moneim Adwan, Two or The Dragon… She translated numerous poems and contemporary theater plays into both French and Arabic, with many of them being published in France. Hala Omran has been awarded as Best Actress on three occasions: first in 2021, at both the Journées Théâtrales de Carthage, and The Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre for her performance in “IMedia” by Sulayman Al Bassam, then in 2023 for her outstanding interpretation in “Mute” by Sulayman Al Bassam at the Journées Théâtrales de Carthage. Furthermore, she received a nomination for the prestigious Gilder/Coigner international Theatre Award in 2023.

Formerly a cultural journalist, she also works as an author, cultural mediator, and researcher. Nayla is interested in issues of environmental justice and decolonization, particularly in and through the arts. As a guest lecturer, she occasionally teaches at UQAM and the Université de Montreal. Her texts have been published in publications such as Esse Contemporary Art Magazine, Mouvement (France), Le Devoir, Jeu, Zone Occupée, Black Box Teater Publication (Norway) and Theater der Zeit (Germany) among others.