Physical Address
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The 13 edition of the International Contemporary Dance Festival opened the ball on Thursday evening at the MAHIEDDINE-BACHTARZI National Theater. Placed under the slogan “Hymn to peace” and having for guest of honor Palestine, the inaugural evening has, for the time being, delivered a strong signal of fraternity and commitment, where memory, resistance and hope spoke in unison, in support of the Palestinian cause.
In front of an audience of prestigious guests – delegation from the Ministry of Culture and Arts, ambassadors, artists, journalists and passionate public – the TNA scene has turned into a bridge of communion and solidarity. At the heart of tributes, a name resonated, with force, as expected: Gaza, and through it, all Palestine.
In a poignant speech, the commissioner of the festival and president of this edition, Fatima Zohra Namous-Senouci, immediately set the tone: “I would like to recall that Palestine is the guest of honor. Therefore, I express all my love to the Palestinian and Algerian peoples, united as brothers. And I warmly thank all the participants in this festival. On this occasion, we have the joy of welcoming talents from several wilayas in the country, but also from different regions of the world. Long live Palestine, long live Algeria, long live dance, long live culture! His words, imprinted with depth, immediately transported the public to the mind of this meeting, that of making art a hymn to peace for the unjustly occupied Palestine and a bridge between peoples.
For this edition, a supported tribute was paid to Sahra Khmida (1953-2009), born in Béjaïa and emblematic figure of the first generation of the Algerian national ballet. Exceptional dancer and choreographer, member of the Troupe des Arts Populaires de l’Onci, she was also a daughter of Chahid and Moudjahida.
Winner of prestigious international distinctions – in Lebanon (2001), Spain (2006) and Turkey (2006) – she marked her time by the richness of her artistic journey and the brilliance of her talent. His memory, honored by his peers, recalls how much dance in Algeria is an art deeply rooted in the Algerian cultural heritage, carried by women and men who have devoted their lives to its transmission and its preservation.
The show opened up on the masterful performance of the Palestinian choreographer Mohamed Ali Dib, who mixed several styles in a universal approach. Questioned by the young independent at the end of the show, the artist, visibly moved, said: “For this performance, I wanted to create something that pleases a universal audience. Thanks to contemporary dance, I mixed different styles – pop, classic, Afro, etc. – so that everyone can find an artistic touch that represents them. Technically speaking, the result is impressive! ». In the same vein, he also praised the talent and energy of young Algerian artists, which he said he considered “carrying a promising future for the choreographic scene”.
“Ah ya ghaza”: an overwhelming pro-Palestinian creation
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the presentation of “ah ya ghaza” (Ô Ghaza). This unprecedented creation is based on the poetic and bewitching text of Nadjat Taybouni, carried by a musical arrangement inspired by the work of Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Asbaha Aidi El Ana Boundoukia (I now have a rifle), formerly immortalized by the voice of Oum Kalthoum. Directed and choreographed by Fatima Zohra Namous-Senouci, the play plunged the public into an experience that is both sensory and emotional of great intensity. On stage, the young dancers who came from all over Algeria and blows the pain, resistance and hope of the Palestinian people.
Finally, choreographic paintings, integrating contemporary gestures, also embodied the memory, suffering and dignity of this long oppressed people. The Syrian dance company and theater “Ugarit” has, in this sense, gave a vibrant artistic tribute to Palestine, before a collective painting bringing together all the artists of the evening comes to close this moment of intense emotion, strengthening the whole scope of this festival.
Throughout the evening, words and gestures converged, with intensity, to one and the same cause. At the end of the ceremony, Fatima Zohra Namous-Senouci said: “We are solidarity body and soul with the Palestinian people. “Questioned by the independent young person on her personal feeling, she said:” Personally, I managed to transmit what I wanted, and that flourished! I am satisfied with the performance of the artists and delighted by the enthusiasm of the public ”, stressing, at the same time, that the professional level of the masterclass was one of the highlights of this 13ᵉ edition.
For his part, Kaddour Nourdine, who also accompanied the training of young dancers, did not hide his pride: “After five days of hard work, these young people – who are not yet recognized as professionals – have shone on stage. Through the training spent, these dancers contributed to the success of the show, dedicated to Ghaza and Palestine. »»
A festival as a dialogue space
Beyond the show of the inaugural evening, the festival, which will extend until September 22, offers a rich program, bringing together eight participating countries, namely Algeria, Palestine, China, Syria, Senegal, Russia, Spain, Italy and Czechia. For Ms. Namous-Senouci, this event is “an invitation to take the time. Time to observe, listen and understand. Time to meet the other in his singularity and universality. Time to recognize that art can be an act of collective maturity ”. And to add: “This edition takes place in a turbulent global context, marked by many tensions, but it also carries meaning, listening and shared intelligence. We therefore chose to continue this festival in a clear framework, based on the imperative need to make culture a common language, a language which links without blurring, an elegant language – a language which is hymn to peace ”.
At the end of the evening, the applause nourished by the public testified to the powerful impact of this opening ceremony. Between solidarity and fervor, between homage and creativity, the inaugural evening of the festival held its promise, that of transforming contemporary dance into a space of expression, lucidity and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
“They couldn’t put you on his knees. They broke your walls, but your foundations remained intact […] The chahid is reborn from his ashes, “wrote Nadjat Taybouni in his text” Ah, Ya Ghaza “. Their echo remains living in hearts! In Algiers, for an evening, the dance led the votes of the Palestinian cause, dignity and peace high.