Irish Modern Dance Theatre & Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival

by Deir | May 27, 2009 at 02:27 am

505 views | 38 Recommendations | 31 comments

“Dance First. Think Later. That’s the natural order.” Ramallah Dance Festival 2009, made me think of Lucky's utterance in Samuel Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot”. In this case I was the lucky one, to be there with Irish Modern Dance Theatre, who, supported by Culture Ireland, were touring their zany and joyous choreography “The White Piece” to Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Haifa.

First impressions? Upon arrival, our phones bleeped, poetically: “Marhaba. Smell the Jasmine and taste the olives. Welcome to Palestine”. Instead of hassle, as we walked down Ramallah’s bustling streets a chorus of “welcome”, and “you are welcome” wafted towards us on the warm air. One emotional tea-shop owner even hugged choreographer John Scott and cried, saying “I don’t want your money – thank you for coming to Palestine”.

I guess they don’t get a lot of tourists here.

We found ourselves in an open-minded place, where culture is revered, women are unexpectedly empowered, and Christians co-exist easily with Muslims. Khaled Elayann, the softly spoken Director of Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival, for example, who is Muslim, is married to a Christian.

When I interviewed him, it was me who veered eventually from the topic of dance to “so – does the conflict here ever impact on the festival in any way?”. He mumbled something about having to cancel performances sometimes out of respect. “What do you mean?”, I prodded. “Like if someone has died”. “Really? Could you give me an example?” He spoke on in a vaguely inaudible fashion, that had me repeating ‘what?’ and sitting on the edge of my seat. They had to cancel the first show of this year’s festival, in Jalazon Refugee Camp, where Scandinavian “Public Eye” dance company had been working with the locals, creating a choreography called “Vertical Exile: West Bank Dreamer’s Pass”. On April 19th, the day it was to preview, a little boy involved in the production had been playing within gunshot range of nearby Israeli Beit El settlement, and was shot dead by a settler. So, (to answer my question), out of respect, they canceled that night’s show. It happens. A week later, the boy’s friends were bussed to Dheishish refugee camp, where the show went ahead, without the boy.

What seemed unbelievable to my Western ears, apparently was an unremarkable event, just par for the course here. I double-checked it with French Photographer Eric Boudet who had been in Ramallah for the entire month giving a dance photography workshop. Boudet shook his head when I alluded to the unfortunate boy, saying “He was only nine years old”. Despite my efforts, I found no trace of the incident, or the boy’s name either in the press or in general conversation.

And the dance went on. While Irish Modern Dance Theatre were giving workshops, and rehearsing, I sat among happy children from the refugee camps in Ramallah’s charming 350-seater Al Kasabah Theatre enjoying “The Jungle Book” by Washington DC based “City Dance” company. (Cheering these children up is part of the festival’s remit). The previous day, the American company had been held up for almost 8 hours at the Jordanian border, en route to Ramallah.

On May 4th, when John Scott’s powerful post-modern choreography “The White Piece” premiered, it was lauded as the most radical of all 18 dance companies at the festival – from America, Scandinavia, South Korea, and all over Europe to Algeria. His eclectic cast featured renowned Irish and international contemporary dancers, versatile young Palestinian actress, Riham Isaac, and new Irish survivors of torture who he found through Dublin’s Centre for the Care of Survivors of Torture. Ugandan-Irish survivor of torture Immaculate Akello made a moving connection with the audience after the show when she spoke of her first-hand experience of the effects of war on mothers and children. Scott drew parallels with Northern Ireland.

John Scott says that he has been “electrified” by the creative energy he has experienced here, since his first trip to Beit Jala in 2008 to choreograph dance film “Eternal” with film-maker Steve Woods. Scott has also performed in many Holocaust choreographies, and is careful to praise the many Jewish achievements – especially those of Karl Marx.

Elayann, himself a lefty choreographer, underlined that Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival is an NGO, aligned with neither Fatah nor Hamas. Yes, he has indeed been invited to participate in a dance festival in Tel Aviv. But “even if they were from the left parties”, he cannot entertain the possibility of cultural exchange with Israel until there is a Palestinian state.

That could be like waiting for Godot. But in the meantime, like Lucky, in Beckett’s famous play, at Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival they are throwing their arms up in the air, and dancing. I can’t help thinking that Beckett would have been proud, could he have seen Irish Modern Dance theatre in Ramallah’s Al Kasabah theatre, dancing their strange, and beautiful dance.

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Paschen

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 06:38 on May 27th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member Deir who was on the scene.

recommend This comment thread is now closed

jazzyzazzy

at 04:30 on May 27th, 2009

So sad about the little boy who died at what sounds like a truly theatrical event full of positive energy and love of the dance.

Paschen

at 04:38 on May 27th, 2009

Thank you for the post here, it is a great read and well written.

I saw that this comes from your own blog. You may not be familiar with NP guide line yet.

We do ask all out members to use the highlight tool for all external sources, even from their own blog. I will give you a few link below to look up and that may help you, if not, feel free to ask or send a PM to any Staff or Guest Editor here.

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Thank you for your post again.

Best, Uwe Paschen.

tikun

at 06:32 on May 27th, 2009

I find no where this incident is reported or even mentioned by any press that a settler shot this young boy. Please give a link to the report or this becomes one more propaganda heart-wrenching dream state.

Deir

at 09:33 on May 27th, 2009

Uh - hello - that is the whole point - it wasn't even reported on! I have corroborated the fact that it happened with the French photographer, the director of the dance festival, and, what's more I have also emailed the choreographer for more information.

tikun

at 13:22 on May 27th, 2009

Deir,

You got to do better then that. A lot of things are said in this part of town that have fantasy written all over it. I am sure the people believe it did happen but it in fact did not. Much of what happens is reported. If an ant jumps it is reported here. I find that just not plausible. Always possible but again not credible.

Nauman Umair Khan

at 13:09 on May 27th, 2009

Very interesting!

tikun

at 13:33 on May 27th, 2009

Maybe if they in fact did participate in cultural exchange it would help the situation. With holding joint cultural activities only does more harm then good.

BTW, Eric Boudet is a dance photographer not a photojournalist. Also, he never said that he witnessed this tragic event. So far all you have given us is hear-say. A lovely article that is laced with poltical naivety.

StampWoman

at 14:15 on May 27th, 2009

Re: the story of the shooting and Tikun's comment. It certainly does seem shockingly incongruous for us, but in the state of fear that these people live in (no matter how immediate the threat), it seems to be another expression of how marginalised and disempowered they feel. That in itself is enough to make the story engaging. It is hard for outsiders to understand what has happened in your part of the world, and most of us just wish all of you a peaceful co-existence. Nice that Ireland sent a contingent to at least establish some human-interest frame of reference for things that are reported to us, and nice that Deir took the time to share it. Thanks, Deir!

tikun

at 05:24 on May 28th, 2009

Oh I see now. As long as the Jews were the "underdog" and "victim" they were compelling. Now that they are fighting, what nerve, for their lives they are no longer compelling. This is twisted in logic and full of guilt.

huh? (not verified)

at 14:30 on May 27th, 2009

Israeli forces kill one Palestinain boy and injure another near Ramallah

Date: 18 / 04 / 2009 Time: 09:21
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

A Palestinian teenager was killed and another was injured by Israeli terrorist soldiers near the Al-Jalazon Refugee Camp north of Ramallah Friday night after allegedly attempting to throw a Molotov cocktail at settler homes.

A youth identified as 16-year-old Muhammad Nuwwara received a fatal gunshot in the chest, and was evacuated to the governmental hospital in Ramallah. A second boy, 19-year-old Muhammad Balasha, was hit in his thigh and transferred to Shaikh Zayid Hospital in Ramallah. Both boys are from Al-Jalazon, a refugee camp just south of the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit El.

Deir

at 14:51 on May 27th, 2009

Well thank-you very much for corroborating that this incident did in fact happen. I notice the word "allegedly" jumping out at me from the report you quote. As you say - very, very interesting. A young boy, shot dead. It wouldn't happen in Ireland, or any other Western country I know of (Canada, for example, where I am also from).

Deir

at 14:58 on May 27th, 2009

Deir

at 15:12 on May 27th, 2009

Well I knew this website would be good for something - my research!

Here it is again, reported on Al Jazeera. In fact, it doesn't change my story at all, except that the boy was 16 years old, instead of 9. No smoke without fire, as they say. And the director of the Dance festival played the incident down completely - which is why I didn't even have the boy's name. My focus was the dance festival. This sad incident being wrapped up in it is a bit shocking for us. Well, RIP, and here's hoping peace and easy living will come soon to those people. Let's hope Waiting for Peace won't be like Waiting for Godot. Please note that the report below doesn't allude to the fact that the poor boy was due to participate in a Contemporary Dance Show the day he died. What do you think of that?

Palestinian youth killed near Ramallah

Saturday April 18, 2009 07:08 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli occupation terrorist soldiers shot and killed on Friday at night a Palestinian youth and wounded another near the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Israeli occupation terrorist army claimed that the youth attempted to hurl a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli military jeep. The incident raises the number of Palestinians killed on Friday to three.

The youth was identified as Mohammad Ali Nuwwara, 16, from Al Jalazoun refugee camp in Ramallah.

Medical sources at the Ramallah governmental hospital reported that Nuwwara was shot by a live round in his chest.

The sources added that another youth, identified as Mohammad Balaysha, 19, was injured by military fire.

The two came under Israeli military fire near Beit Eil Israeli settlements, north of Ramallah.

Israeli military sources claimed that the soldiers opened fire at Palestinian youths after they hurled Molotov cocktails against home in Beit Eil settlement, killing one and wounding another.

It is worth mentioning that a few months ago; a Palestinian youth was shot and killed in the same area. The army also claimed he attempted to hurl a Molotov cocktail at soldiers and settlers.

tikun

at 05:58 on May 28th, 2009

Deir,

It is clear where your contempt lies and coming from Ireland I am not surprised. Half-truths and still no verified attempt at the truth. It is an embarrassment to quote " 3 Palestinian Civilians Killed by Israeli Terrorist Soldiers and Settlers" Please spare me the yellow journalism.

"The army claimed that the youth attempted to hurl a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli military jeep.

GeeWhiz, someone attempts to throw a Molotov cocktail at soldiers and gets killed in the process. The tragedy is the act itself and the result. No Molotov cocktail no death. It was a terrorist incident. The Sad tragedy is using young boys to carry out this action. No leader from Hamas or Fatah factions would contemplate sending their own children into harms way. Hamas leadership hid in the basement of Hospitals in Gaza while the fighting took place above ground. That says it all.

You can spin all day if it makes you feel good about yourself but in the end it is not you or your self-righteous indignation that is going to make peace.

Deir

at 05:55 on May 28th, 2009

So, Tikun, I take it you think it's OK to shoot a 16 year-old boy dead on sight? Really?

Not where I come from! We have laws and human rights here!

tikun

at 06:05 on May 28th, 2009

Deir,

The hatred is sickening. Read my comments above. It appears that you really do not want an answer. All you want to to trash Israel/Jews. I have lost interest in racist comments.

Deir

at 23:08 on May 28th, 2009

Dearest Tikun,

For your information some of my best friends are Jewish. One of them, an actor with the amazing Peter Brook's Centre for International Theatre Research in Paris brought the Dybbuk (that famous Yiddish play), to Dublin in the 90's, and performed it with his Arabic wife. Since when did it become 'racist' to defend human rights? I am rather partial to human rights, I have to admit. Guilty!

Deir

at 23:16 on May 28th, 2009

And as for "coming from Ireland" - let me help you out there, Tikun. We have a lovely Jewish community here, who are celebrated in one of our most famous literary characters, Leopold Bloom. Heard of him? James Joyce's protagonist in "Ulysses"? & we dedicate one day per year to celebrating that famous Irish Jew - June 16th - coming up now! Pick up a copy of the book, you are sure to get through some of it before June 16th.

The union of church & state is never a good idea, history has taught us. We have even had a problem with that here in Ireland this week, with regard to horrific child abuse in Religious schools. But at least we are shining a light on it, dealing with it, and moving on.

My other Jewish best-friend's father was called Shalom - a wonderful man.

So Shalom to you Tikun. & always stand up for human rights, regardless of race, creed, or colour.

tikun

at 01:07 on May 29th, 2009

Deir,

To defend your views by saying some of my best friends are Jews is a sad tale in justifying your propaganda and unverified attacks against Israel. To over use "human rights" as a guise in trying to discredit a people and nation you so abhor is ludicrous and sad.

I just try to think how it would sound if i said some of my best friends are Irish or Christian and therefore I can now trash their country or place or people or humanity in the guise of my self-righteous indignation doesn't carry any moral weight.

I also think that before you make assumptions about my "standing up" for human rights you have a little humility and think that it just maybe possible that there are some of us out here in the world that have risked their lives not their words for the rights of others.

Have a good weekend and Shalom to you Deir.

StampWoman

at 05:12 on May 29th, 2009

Tikun you have repeatedly put words in other peoples' mouths here. You have also made several accusations and jumped to conclusions. You seem to be accusing others of malice against you and your countrymen, but you have no evidence of that, and no way to see inside other peoples' hearts and minds. Perhaps you could be a little more helpful in explaining to us what YOU think and feel and why... instead of accusing us of malicious biais against you? Ireland is also a very young country that has come through civil war and sectarian terror and violence. Our island is still politically divided to this day. Why don't you read up on it a bit? You might get a better sense of our point of view on the Middle Eastern conflict. I would also like to recommend a film or two if you can get hold of it there. "Michael Collins" directed by Neil Jordan, and "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" directed by Ken Loach. A more recent one is "Five Minutes of Heaven" but I can't remember the director's name. Anything you would like to recommend in exchange? Shalom to you too.

tikun

at 12:40 on May 31st, 2009

Stampwoman,

Viewed the wind that shakes the barley. Thanks for the recommendation.

StampWoman

at 05:12 on May 29th, 2009

tikun

at 06:16 on May 29th, 2009

Stampwoman,

You are new here and think that everyone is ignorant because they disagree with your sense of justice. By even mentioning the name Loach and his vicious anti-Israel stance including intimidating the upcoming film festival about monies to support an Israeli and her film on women is racist. Her words not mine.

It's the words. That is all there is here. No human contact. It is easy to be holier then thou on the net. But our lives are at stake not yours. I respect your right to disagree but I am also passionate about our world view. Lets just call it quits.

StampWoman

at 01:28 on May 31st, 2009

Tikun, there you go again telling me what I think. I am not guilty of the things you have accused me of. You and I know nothing about one another. You know nothing about my ancestry either, or my race, or my creed. My reference to the film by Ken Loach was so that you could see a portrayal of the civil war in Ireland, nothing more.

I do think I have learned something from our exchange though. It is true that people who live in fear can see threats even where there are none. It is fear itself that is the enemy, and I would say this is as true for me as it is for you.

No one said it better than your great countryman, the Nazarene, who said “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘You must love your neighbour as yourself.All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

tikun

at 04:23 on May 31st, 2009

I think that you misunderstood me also. I just responded to your previous comments. BTW, Those references you attribute to the "Nazarene" come from the "Ten Commandments".

I will see the film and I do appreciate you bringing it to my attention.

I am not sure what you meant by "people that live in fear"? I do think that people that have the comfort of living in a pretty homogeneous community have a blessing in the luxury of that experience with out neighbors at the ready to kill your children. Fear is a basic human emotion for survival but it can also be a obstacle too. The choice is all ours.

Be Well,

Steve

StampWoman

at 10:22 on May 31st, 2009

Tikun, those phrases are attributed to Jesus of Nazareth not by me but by the Evangelists, authors of the Christian New Testament. See: Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28

tikun

at 10:41 on May 31st, 2009

I know but I am trying to inform you that what you read or see is not always as it appears. The truth is that it is not from there but in fact from the "preamble" to the receiving of the tablets. This does not slight the Christian new testament but the original source is not from there. Steve

StampWoman

at 07:39 on June 1st, 2009

Of course, but you also have to back up what you say. I have re-read Exodus 19 and 20 and I find nothing there that resembles "love thy neighbour as thyself".

tikun

at 03:32 on June 2nd, 2009

Stampwoman, Hope this helps.

Leviticus 19:16-18

16. You are not to traffic in slander among your kinspeople.
You are not to stand by the blood of your neighbor,
I am YHWH!

17. You are not to hate your brother in your heart;
rebuke, yes, rebuke your fellow,
that you not bear sin because of him!

18. You are not to take-vengeance, you are not to retain-anger against the sons of your kinspeople—
but be-loving to your neighbor (as one) like yourself,
I am YHWH!

Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a

Once there was a gentile who came before Shammai, and said to him: "Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot. Shammai pushed him aside with the measuring stick he was holding. The same fellow came before Hillel, and Hillel converted him, saying: That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it."