The two latest MAAT for Contemporary Art's productions, Belia and If I May..., will have their premiere in cinema Zawya on 4 February, followed by screenings at the French Institute on 5 February, and the Goethe-Institut on 6 February.
The screenings are organised by the MAAT/CCDC Dance Film Platform and will be followed by a Q&A session with the artists and filmmakers.
Belia is directed and choreographed by Eman Hussein, who also performs in the film alongside Mohamed ‘Toto’ Mahmoud, Islam El-Arabi, and Hanin Tarek. The entire cast are graduates of the MAAT|Contemporary Dance School.
“By closely following the relationship between the Ustas (colloquial Egyptian for craft headmasters) and their Belia (apprentice) of a car repair shop, we explore how these relationships unfold as they merge labour with the rhythms of everyday life and open up a new space for movement,” reads the film’s brief.
If I May... is directed and choreographed by Nermin Habib, also a graduate of the first cohort of the MAAT|Contemporary Dance School. Habib also performs in the film.
The film’s brief reads as follows: “Living in the city becomes a daily struggle when the cacophony forces itself into my everyday routine. Having my own space away from the shouting, the traffic, and the bustle in the streets becomes a privilege that I am denied. Yet, I fight for it. And when I do, time stands still. The pressure releases and slides through the back of my head. Time fades away when I declare my state of peace, and I feel sensations I never knew existed.”
“This expanded program is in an attempt at widening the number of spaces for contemporary dance to reach diverse audiences through various mediums during the COVID-19 crisis,” reads the Facebook event.
Since the places are limited, with the screening halls decreasing the maximum seating capacity, prior reservation is mandatory. Follow this link to book your seat.
The screenings are free of charge and seating is first-come-first serve. Entry will not be permitted after the movie has started. The organisers underscore that in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask is mandatory and a safe distance must be maintained for everyone’s safety.
The MAAT Contemporary Dance Company was founded in Cairo by artist, choreographer, and teacher Karima Mansour in 1999 as the first Egyptian independent dance company of its kind.
MAAT supports the local contemporary dance scene in Egypt and networks regionally and internationally with performers, choreographers, instructors, and academic theorists.
MAAT’s performances themselves are primarily produced with the graduates of the MAAT|Contemporary Dance School, the full-time professional training program of the MAAT|Cairo Contemporary Dance Center, as the main performers.
Programme:
Both films — Belia and If I May... — are screened in the following locations:
Thursday 4 February, 7pm
Zawya Cinema, 18 Emad Al-Din Street, Downtown.
Note: The maximum seating capacity is 154.
Follow this link to book your seat.
Friday 5 February, 8pm
French Institute, 1 Madrasset Al-Huquq Al-Frinseya, Mounira.
Note: The maximum seating capacity is 83.
Follow this link to book your seat.
Saturday 6 February, 8pm
Goethe-Institut, 17 Hussein Wasef Street, Messaha Sq., Dokki.
The maximum seating capacity is 30.
Follow this link to book your seat.
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