The 17th edition of the Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival began today, Thursday, with a performance by the French group "Mazil Fraytin" titled "Lucid Dream," which is primarily inspired by the atmosphere of battles around the world. The troupe's members presented group and solo dances over 55 minutes at the Ramallah Cultural Palace, accompanied by loud music based on electronic instruments, creating a near-hypnotic effect that expresses the state of human existence in the digital age.
The festival, organized by the First Ramallah Company with the support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (Afaq) and various institutions and donors, will run until June 22 under the slogan "Every Body Has a Thousand Stories." It features participation from 15 local and international troupes.
Festival director Khaled Aliyan stated, "Every Palestinian body holds stories. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nakba. The stories of the Nakba are etched on our bodies, the torture of prisoners is felt on their bodies, the daily searches at military checkpoints leave their mark on the body, and the violence against women and children affects their bodies. Every day brings stories for the body."
He added that "what distinguishes this year's festival is the participation of ten Palestinian troupes from all over Palestine, including Haifa, Nazareth, Gaza, and from Ramallah to Jerusalem for the Palestinian diaspora."
In addition to performances, the program includes a conference on "Dance and Society," discussing freedom of expression, as well as dance workshops and the "Palestinian Dance Forum." The festival will host ten artists from festival and theater directors who will meet with 18 Palestinian troupes to showcase their future projects.
He concluded by saying, "Despite all circumstances, the festival continues. This is our life and these are our conditions; we are a people that continues to live, a people that resists the occupation, and culture is a form of resistance."
