Copyright information:© Lea Skayem
Director and choreographer Ali Chahrour connects personal and collective narratives in his work, engaging with themes such as love and war. During this Artist to Artist conversation, he will speak with local artists about creating work within the political and social context of Lebanon, and about what it means to share stories that often remain in the background or go unheard. This year, he is also featured at Holland Festival with his performance When I Saw the Sea, a hopeful musical work combining music and dance. The piece tells the story of three real-life heroines who attempt to break free from the grip of modern slavery in Lebanon.
Dancer and choreographer Ali Chahrour (Beirut, 1989) has developed a distinctive movement language that breaks away from Western codes and models. His choreographic vocabulary reflects his cultural background as well as the political, social, and religious context in which he works. In an earlier series of performances—part of his “Death” trilogy—he brought funeral rituals to life, where tradition and sharp modernity converge. He later initiated a new series centered on the theme of love, including Told by My Mother, presented at Holland Festival in 2025.
Chahrour’s work is characterized by a combination of lyrical poetry and intensely intertwined bodies. His performances have been presented at the Festival d’Avignon (2016, 2018, and 2022), among many other festivals worldwide.
