BEYTNA

press

“[…] In a highly inventive way, we are presented a discussion – in dance, music and almost incidentally in words – about identity and multiculturalism […]. Anani Sanouvi Dodji from Togo is the first to break ranks with the kitchen hands, dancing with powerful dynamism and expansive steps that echo loudly […]. […] Koen Augustijnen then [offers] a blend of air-boxing and Flemish rap. Before him, Shang-Chi Sun from Taiwan performs elegant tumbling movements, enveloping his torso, arms and legs as if waves were pulsing through his whole body. And from the side appears the main performer, Omar Rajeh from Lebanon, combining side steps and precise, flowing arm movements […]. […] The benefits of traditional identities come at a price, and multi-culture can result in both vital innovation and fragile minimal consensus – this is ingeniously and sensually visualised here. […]”
Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, 11 September 2017                                       

preview TEXT

“BEYTNA”, which translates as “our home”, is an invitation to dine with friends. At the initiative and with the participation of enterprising Lebanese choreographer and festival organiser Omar Rajeh, this unusual event format not only brings together choreographers Koen Augustijnen from Belgium, Anani Sanouvi from Togo and Shang-Chi Sun from Taiwan but also four musicians from the Middle East. Together they welcome the public to their temporary home at Orangerie Herrenhausen. The atmosphere is relaxed as the participants dance on the stage, cook at the long table, make music or chat. As the hall gradually fills with the fragrance of warm bread and onions, the audience finds out a lot about life in different cultures and the lives of the artists themselves. By the end of this – in all senses of the word – enriching evening, all boundaries will have dissolved in a stimulating celebration of diversity.

(approx. 75 mins.)

Watch a video on youtube

cast & credits

Concept & direction: Omar Rajeh
Performance: Koen Augustijnen, Ziad Ahmadie, May Bou Matar, Shang-Chi Sun, Youssef Hbeisch, Samir Nasr Eddine, Omar Rajeh, Ziyad Sahhab, Anani Sanouvi
Choreography: Koen Augustijnen, Omar Rajeh, Anani Sanouvi, Hiroaki Umeda
Music Composition:
Ziad Ahmadie, Youssef Hbeisch, Samir Nasr eddine , Ziyad Sahhab
Percussion: Youssef Hbeisch
Voice: Nohad Rajeh
Scenography & costumes: Mia Habis
Sound Engineering: Jean-Christophe Batut
Lighting design: Victor Duran Manzano
Technical direction: Nadim Deaibes
Technical assistance: Salim Abou Ayyash
Tailoring: Georges Jamo
Graphic design & video animation: Joe Elias/Nimslabs
Photography: Tony Elieh

Production: Maqamat Beit El Raqs
Co-production: BIPOD - Beirut International Platform of Dance / Tanzquartier Wien / Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg / CCN de La Rochelle - Cie Accrorap / Theater im Pfalzbau, Ludwigshafen / Fondazione Fabbrica Europa, Florence

With the support of the Goethe-Institute.