Caracalla Dance Theatre

The Caracalla Dance Theatre is an internationally renowned dance company based in Beirut, Lebanon.[1]

History

In 1968, Caracalla founded what would evolve into the first and most prominent professional dance theatre of the Middle East, creating a body language based upon the Martha Graham dance disciplines blended with Arabic heritage, thus creating a unique “Caracalla Dance Style”.

The Caracalla Dance Theatre has performed in the most reputable theatres and cultural cities across the world, from the Osaka National Theatre, to the Carnegie Hall, Sadler’s Wells to the Kennedy Centre, Theatre des Champs Elysees to the Frankfurt Opera House, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo Opera Houses, Centre of the Arts Los Angeles to Places des Arts Montreal, as well as numerous other festivals and venues worldwide. Caracalla captured global press recognition interpreted through an original dance form and revealing a rich and mysterious east blended with western technique.

Caracalla created over fourteen ballets and musicals including adaptations of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing”. Recipient of numerous acclaimed awards and decorations from Arabic and International leaders, Caracalla has the honor to collaborate with some of the most internationally renowned artists that are pioneers and leaders in the world of theatre. Under the auspices of great leaders and with the admiration of a vast audience, the Company has succeeded in the establishment of its own theatre home to the dancers and guardian to over forty years of invaluable and extensive archival research in dance, music, costumes, traditions and Arabic heritage. Theatre is also home to “Studio Caracalla”, a dance school teaching and illuminating today’s youth for an artistic future.

Current Play: Kan Ya Ma Kan

After its world tour to Paris, Shanghai, London, The Kennedy Center in Washington DC and Los Angeles, the Caracalla Dance Theatre is proud to announce its latest theatrical creation Kan Ya Ma Kan (which means Once Upon A Time), which premiered at the prestigious Beiteddine Art Festival, followed by performances at the unique Royal Opera House Muscat. Kan Ya Ma Kan features an internationally renowned creative team in the fields of lighting, scenography and visual arts, under the direction of Ivan Caracalla and starring the dancers of Caracalla Company, embracing body and spirit to the choreography of Alissar Caracalla, blending the disciplines of dance with the identity of our heritage.

The magic of the Orient coupled with Caracalla’s sumptuous costumes, creative vision and unique dance style, old blend together with the harmonious and bizarre melodies of oriental instruments to make Kan Ya Ma Kan an encounter burst with visual impact, where past, present and future merge into a powerful theatrical celebration of life.

Kan Ya Ma Kan is a musical and balletic trilogy with the first act performed to the acclaimed music of Shehrazade by Rimsky Korsakov, as we lift the veil on the mysterious East and the majestic yet dramatic court of Shahrayar, where passion, love and revenge illuminate the nights of the palace and plot the doomed destiny of the King…

The second act opens at the bazar of extraordinary tales from the sands of time of a Thousand and One Nights. The oriental Souk, vibrant in its perfume and colors, comes to life to the racket of merchants eager to trade their goods. To the timeless composition of Ravel’s Bolero, Odalisques parade at the bewilderment of enchanted buyers desperately seeking the most beautiful to buy; a cunning sorcerer introduces a magical beauty dazzling all customers, only to realize too late that they have been swindled by his mystic powers…

The final part of the performance is a return to Folklore and our traditional roots, with a journey to the days of the Caravanserai, a unique place for encounters where travelers from all walks came to rest after long crossings, sharing in their adventures, tales and songs. Guest appearance by Hoda Haddad, Joseph Azar, Rifaat Torbey, Berge Fazlian and the authentic voice of Hadi Khalil.

Performances

The company's international debut was at the Festival of Osaka in Japan in 1972.[2] Since then, the company has traveled extensively all over the world, and in particular in North America and Europe.[1]

Press

"All credit to Abdel-Halim Caracalla for devising and producing such entertaining, exotic and exciting dance-drama..."

"A contemporary dance form that blends the great of the Orient with the earthiness of Western modern dance..."

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Caracalla Dance Theatre - The Oxford Dictionary of Dance - HighBeam Research
  2. ↑ Caracalla