Dance Festival - Yallah!

I found this amazing dance opportunity two weeks ago which has kept
me so busy. Amman hosted an international dance festival with many
dance companies arriving from around the world. Many of the dance
companies are offering free dance workshops to help enrich the dance
community in Amman. Ya Samar Dance (from NYC) company put out
a call for professional and pre-professional dancers for an 10 day
intensive workshop and performance which I participated in. The
workshop was modern/contemporary/improvisation. I have no
classical or modern background so this was quite new for me. The
Creative Director “Summer” set the bar to professional standards
which was also quite challenging.

The exercises/training put me in an artistic space I have never
experienced. We practiced leading all movements from specific body
parts, i.e. nose, chin, shoulder, collar bone, ribs, hips, knees, foot.
This exercise was to have more intent with different movements. We
created 9 cubic points in space that we had to reach for with different
body parts (to the point of falling). This exercise clearly is to reach as
far as you can go and occupy the space. We had partner exercise
where we had to move with different levels of contact to focus on
connection with fellow dancers, i.e. contact, surface just hair lightly
touch , 10 cm away, 1 meter, opposite sides of the room. We then
had to move as though we were mud, then water, then oil
(ta3yn, mayy, zait). One of the last exercises was about creating lines
with different body parts and to play with this – so fascinating. We
had rolling exercises and we played freeze tag. Everyday I had so
many bruises on my knees, elbows, shin, foot. The assistant director
Zoe is a Yoga Master so we also has yoga in our workouts. This was all
before we started the chorography.

Training took place 4 hours a day for 10 days. I went to work early to
leave early and then trained from 4:30-8:30. On the weekend we
trained from 12:00 to 4:00. I missed 2 rehearsal when it happened
during the workday which also fell the days I had Arabic lessons in
the evening. I also attended physical therapy 3x a week for my calf
which was really needed with the all the training. Basically I was busy
from 9am to 9pm every day.

Honestly when I am learning movements I am always focused
learning the moves correctly then executing them in my own style.
I have never really experiences this kind of artistic space where its
not about looking good but more about exploration. I want to be
good, I want to be good, and in this was the challenge of being.
Wow - I feel blessed & honored to be presented this free mental
space/the process of art.

As Ya Samar was creating our chorography they were also working
with musicians to create the music which would be fused together
closer to the end. We practiced so many times and only a few times
to the actual music since we needed the musicians for this. We each
had small solos, created from a childhood memory. My memory was
“the backyard” the center of my childhood. Hopefully we can get
the clip.

I am so fortunate 5-7 weeks here in Amman, already connecting with
the dance community and then performing on the stage of Al Hussein
Cultural Center. Amman is a small community, going to the events
knowing many people, hanging out with all the dancers from around
the world (also fellow NYers) after the show… lots of fun. To my NYC
friends you must see Ya Samar perform I was so touched/impressed
to the pointed I teared twice.

I may try to teach some private lessons to the expatriate
community here in Amman – enshallah (god willing).