Based on Ahmed Mourad's best-selling novel by the same title, "Blue Elephant" the dance performance is being staged by the Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company at the Cairo Opera House's Main Hall on 1-3 December. The performance is directed and choreographed by Monadel Antar 

Earlier this year, film based on the same novel was released during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday following the end of Ramadan.

The Blue Elephant (Al-Feel Al-Azraq) novel tells the story of Yehia, a psychotherapist at Abbasiya Mental Hospital specialised in treating criminals, including homicidal ones. Among the patients is his best friend, who he tries to help - but not without getting himself into trouble.

The Egyptian Modern Dance Theatre Company was founded in 1993 under the Ministry of Culture and the Cairo Opera House with Walid Awni as its artistic director and choreographer before the post was given to Monadel Antar in recent years. Since its inception, the company has given over 26 performances in Egypt and toured internationally, receiving audiences' acclaim. Throughout the many years of its activities, choreographers working with the company were inspired by a variety of creative forms which included literary material.

In May this year, the troupe directed by Monadel Antar performed Mawlana based on Ibrahim Eissa's novel of the same name. In October, Bahaa Taher's Sunset Oasis inspired The Widow of the Desert dance performance, directed and choreographed by Sally Ahmed.

Photos: Bassam El-Zoghby