On 15 December 2024, Alserkal Avenue invites everyone to two insightful discussions centred around the theme of dance. Both events will take place in the Yard. The first talk, Interdisciplinarity in Dance, will start at 4:30 PM, and the second, What is Dance, at 5:30 PM.
The first talk will feature a conversation between artists Samaa Wakim and Samar Haddad King, who will draw on their extensive experience in performance to explore interdisciplinary practices in contemporary dance. This session will delve into their past collaborations and discuss the future of their art practices and the broader dance field.
The second talk, moderated by Lithuanian cultural manager Beata Stankevič, will include artists Ginevra Panzetti and Enrico Ticconi. Together, they will examine how contemporary choreography redefines dance, often challenging conventional notions and expanding its boundaries. The discussion will explore how the meaning of dance evolves across different cultural and historical contexts, inviting attendees to rethink its possibilities today.
About the artists
Samar Haddad King is a writer, choreographer, and composer who obtained her BFA in Choreography from Ailey/Fordham under the mentorship of Kazuko Hirabayashi. She choreographed the musical We Live in Cairo (American Repertory Theater, Boston, USA, 2019) and contributed, with Sandra Noeth, a chapter on Arab world dance to the 2nd edition of Contemporary Choreography (Routledge, 2018).
King is also a founder and art director of the Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre (YSDT), a collective of artists based in New York and Palestine, which was established in 2005. The group creates vibrant performances and educational programs aimed at fostering cultural understanding and accessibility through the arts. With YSDT, King has produced over 30 works which have been performed in 20 countries across 4 continents.
Samaa Wakim is a Palestine-based performer, choreographer, and cultural manager who graduated from the University of Haifa’s Theatre programme. She has taken part in notable international projects, which include the dance performance Badke (2012-2017), I’m Yusuf and This is My Brother (2009–2012), and Kabaret Khashabi (2016–2018). A member of Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre since 2014, she continues to contribute to innovative dance and cultural initiatives.
Artists Ginevra Panzetti and Enrico Ticconi, who divide their time between Berlin and Turin, have collaborated since 2008. Graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, they also studied at Stoà, School for Rhythmic Movement and Philosophy in Cesena. In 2010, the duo moved to Germany, where Panzetti studied Media Art at HGB in Leipzig, and Ticconi studied Dance, Context, and Choreography at HZT in Berlin.
Panzetti and Ticconi’s art practice combines dance, performance, and visual art, often exploring themes of communication, violence, and power through historical and contemporary lenses. Their choreographic work Harleking (2018) gained international acclaim, being showcased at leading festivals and platforms, including AEROWAVES Twenty19, the New Italian Dance (NID) Platform, and Tanzplatform Deutschland 2020.
In addition, you might be interested in viewing Samur, a performative art piece by Chinese artist Zheng Bo on display at the Jameel Arts Centre.
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