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New Work
Iskandar Dance & Hilal Dance Company presents a rare and exciting double bill performance celebrating a point of transition between traditional, contemporary dance and theatre.
El Saqiyeh
 Iskandar Dance Company's new production celebrates the pawerfull integration of Sha'abi (traditional folk), contemporary dance and theatre, through the progressive form of Hilal Dance, (based on the aesthetic of Arab/Egyptian culture).
El Saqiyeh, meaning "The Waterwheel" symbolizes the cycles and continuity of life and the connection to the earth. The dancers tel a tale of unity and cohesion with a spiralling language of physically carved calligraphy that gracefully traverse the space, revealing pure movement aesthetic, serenity and soul.
International dancer and choreographer, Alessandro Bascioni has collaboratesd and toured in Europe with Suraya hilal in several productions, including Al Janub and Aseel. In El Saqiyeh, is accompanied by three dancers and the revowened percussionist, Ibrahim El Minyawi, with the rich music of Les Musicies du Nil. These performers come together in an intricate play of movement, melody and rhythms, showing an underlying sense of power through unity; energetic balance of both control and surrender.
El Mizan
 
Hilal Dance Company's new work boldly explores the true meaning of Oscillations; the swing of the pendulum, the journey and serch for the point of balance (El Mizan) in ones body and mind. Through the language of Hilal Dance, the work infuses the traditional with the ideal, heritage noulded to modernity, the classical reinterpreted through originality.
International choreographer/dancer & founder Suraya Hilal, has been lauded as one of the great talents, of our time and her conmpany's work, rapresent an unparalleled development of Arab/Egyptian dance.
El Mizan is inspired by Joseph Tawadros's evocative improvisations on the classical Oud, the oldest and foremost musical instrument of the Arab world. The strings when played vibrate crystal clear notes of pure intellect and simultaneously resonate though movement aesthetic and clear lines of expresion, undertake a joourney which embraces the notion that ultimate freedom is found within.
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Press Quotes
[Alessandro el Bascioni] "A compelling performance" (Westdeusche Zeitung)"
"El Saqiyeh, is like an oasis of restorative calm" (The Herald) Mary Brennan
[Iskandar Dance Co.] "Steps are so smooth they look like they' are gliging..." (The List) Kelly Apter
"It was a sense of freedom which it ran through Iskandar Dance Company's beautiful El Saqiyeh..the quality of the North African dancing is like no others, giving a wonderfull sense of harmony between costume, dance and music"
(Ballet Magazine) Ian Palmer
[Iskandar Dance Co.] "Pace is dignified, even stately which contributes to a vaguely ristualistic atmosphere, heightened by several leifmotifis of movements recurring throughout. Alessandro Bascioni the enigmatic lead dancer shows through his choreography an appreciation of the dimension of his stage and produces dances which although they repeat are rarely repetitive... a well hour spent at the Lilian Baylis Theatre in Sadler's Weels". (Dancing Time) Gerald Dowler
"Mesmerising" (The British Guide Theatre)
[In Oscillations] - "Hilal has the ability to cast hypnotic spell with simplest of movememtns; a solitary gesture or an intense gaze... ti watch her perform is to see music". (The Metro) Keith watson
"Watching Suraya Hilal is like watching the music dance itself.” (Al Arab)
“Suraya Hilal is a choreographer of subtlety and high skill and a dancer of quality - an exhilarating evening.” (The Times)
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