The Beirut International Platform of Dance is back for its 15th edition with a mesmerizing program of international and local performances, and the launch of Citern Beirut, its new performance space.
Running from 4 to 13 April 2019, BIPOD comprises nine dance performances by companies from Spain, Australia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, France and Germany: 12 studio presentations, two masterclasses and much more.
Photo – Mart Albesa
We share […] the ambition and desire to see a cultural and artistic scene that brings back [Beirut’s] pioneering and cultural role and inspires hope and awareness in the city.
This year will kick off with the special eighth edition of Moultaqa Leymoun – the platform for Arab dance artists established by Maqamat – bringing to BIPOD a Lebanon-focused highlight of the vibrant talents of both emerging and professional Lebanese dancers and choreographers. This section will host 18 artists from Lebanon, Tunisia, Palestine, Jordan and Iran.
“After 15 years of work, perseverance, and effort, we are proud of the achievements of the festival, its great contribution to establishing and developing a contemporary dance scene in Lebanon with a wide and strong international presence,” says BIPOD’s artistic director, Mia Habis.
Photo – Pierre Ricci
“We share with them the ambition and desire to see a cultural and artistic scene that brings back to Beirut its pioneering and cultural role and inspires hope and awareness in the city.”
BIPOD will open with the Lebanese premiere of “#minaret” by Maqamat founder Omar Rajeh, which has been and will continue to be touring internationally throughout 2019-2020. The performance looks at cultural, social, historical and religious themes in a time when war and violence have destroyed much.
Photo – Shaun Parker
All the shows will be staged at Citern Beirut, a new permanent space in Karantina that has been two years in the making and hopes to change the landscape of Lebanese performing arts.
“Maqamat is always pushing boundaries and we will never rest; at least as long as it is needed,” Rajeh says. “Beirut has a new home for culture that is needed to rethink the performing arts scene in Lebanon.”
As a creative and cultural center for performing arts in the capital, it aims at producing local and international contemporary performances and holding training courses and workshops, including dance, music and theater.
The space is flexible, allowing artists to move the stage, lighting and seating layout anyway the wish allowing for 200 to 1,000 seats.
Text: Maghie Ghali
Text: Maghie Ghali
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