"The everyday life of a dancer leads us to discover oriental dance."



A production of music and oriental dance.

For couple of years these has been a growing interest and appreciation of Arabic music and oriental danse in the west.
Melodies sad or full of cheerfulness, a strong or subtle rhythm, wavelike movements, vibrations of the dancer's whole body, her dialogue with the musicians this is what can interest and create a public among western audiences.


THE CONTENT OF THE PRODUCTION

Ten live scenes that travel through the history of oriental dance, linked by 9 video sequences that show the everyday life of an oriental dancer today in the west.


THE ORIGIN OF THE ORIENTAL DANCE

This goes back to the matriarchal period when the women danced for the earth mother during the fertility rites. Then the patriarcal society appeared and this dance became a danse of entertainment.


THE PATH OF ORIENTAL DANCE IN THE PRODUCTION

Acompagnied by the nostalgic sound of the accordion, the plaintive modulation of the ney and the dynamism of the percussion, we discover :

- The arab-andalusian market full of poetry and colour.

- The Ghawazies (Egyptian gypsies).

- Cairo : from the 19th century palace to the local tavern, and in a cafe the birth of the Baladi dance in the 1930s

- The golden era of the Egyptian musical comedy films (in 1950s) with Farid El Attrache who sings of his love to the seductive Samia Gamal.

- The dancer's dream. A homage to Loie fuller the choreographer.

- The meeting between East and West via a duet of contemporary dance and stylised oriental dance..

- The present time when oriental dance entered the stage as choreographed ballet.


THE DECOR

For every live scene there is a fixed decor (slides) projected from back stage which can provide the perspective of temple columns, the lively market atmosphere or the shade of the tavern.


THE VIDEO SEQUENCES

The video sequences, also projected from back stage, follow the everyday life of our dancer and make us share her worries, dreams and artistic ambitions.



THE DRAMA

The status of women is evoked by the dancer in live scenes and video sequences.



CAST

- 6 dancers
- 6 musicians : derbouka, def, bendir, tar (percussion), ney (flute), violin, accordion and oud (lute).
- 3 actors
- 84 costumes




OTTILIE - Choreographer - dancer

Has danced and taught oriental dance for 15 years.
She participated in a number of productions such as the celebration of the centenary fo the Tour Eiffel with Jean-Michel Jarre. She performs regulary at Ris-Orangis Festival and at the Culture Mandapa in Paris

ALAIN TYR - Director

Director of documentary films for television channels M6 / La Cinquieme / Muzzik / Canal+.


PIERRE GUFFROY - Decorator

Known for his cinema decor. Including the decor for the "Le Testament d'Orphee" of Jean Cocteau, "Tess" and "Pirate" of Roman Polanski.


DENIS RION - Designed lighting for theatre and dance productions for Festival d'Avignon, Conservatoire d'Art Dramatique de Paris, Théatre de Chaillot.



DANSE

Raqs El Sharqui, Baladi, Saidi
Contemporary dance.


MUSIC

Classical Arabic music, popular and commercial music played live by the orchestra.
Recorded music : Rimsky Korsakov, Mozart l'Egyptien, Metkaal Kenawe.


POEMS

Ibn Zaydun



FILM EXTRACT (1mn30)

"One and Thousands Nights" of Tourjansky (1921).