Review by Jo Tomalin
For All Events
Dance People
Maqamat, the French-Lebanese contemporary dance company in collaboration with Cie Omar Rajesh present the World Premiere of Dance People at the Edinburgh International Festival, August 2025. Set in the beautiful Old College Quad, choreographers Omar Rajeh and Mia Habis create an innovative promenade performance with their dance company – that also invites the audience to mingle, sometimes join in and become part of the experience!
Ten dancers including Rajesh and Habis move around the huge quad space in combinations of solos, duets and small groups. Sometimes the entire ensemble dances together to original pieces set to vibrant music with dramatic lighting and roaming sets. Their aim is not only to offer a joyful experience but to also welcome the audience in to be more than passive observers. In fact, from the beginning, the space is open for the audience to roam around, watch – or to be among the set pieces comprising huge metal structures with lights and a musician. This sets up an interesting dynamic where audience members are participants when invited and are free to watch all of the production from anywhere in the quad. People are guided by the advance of the tall metal structures that sweep around us, pushed by the company opening or moving the observers to create new performance spaces.
The dancers are outstanding and they also briefly interact each other and everyone watching. A dynamic eclectic colorful costume design by highlights individuality of each performer. Choreography is vibrant and original mainly fast movement with some slower paced motifs. The. Lighting design by Guy Hoare is beautiful and creates not only atmosphere but also highlights performing space. There is no doubt that this show is pushing the boundary between performer and audience – with the addition of how the physical movement of the company spotlights democracy, dictatorship and culture. Later in the piece names of victims of such strife are projected on the set as it moves around reminding us of these times. Lively and soulful music is composed with live interpretation by Mathias Delplanque and Ziad El Ahmadie with voice by Abdul Karim Chaar.
This is a special event with experimental qualities that is moving, meaningful and entertaining. Highly recommended!
4 Stars!
More information:
www.eif.co.uk
