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Beirut Physical Lab aims to become a hub for movement-based art and exploration. A focal point for local and international artists to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate, fostering a rich and safe creative environment.
Who is Beirut Physical Lab?
Beirut Physical Lab is an independent organization that aims to develop the physical theater and contemporary dance scene in Beirut and its surroundings. Its objective is to support amateur and professional artists by creating a safe space to express themselves, work on their personal projects, and give them tools to develop their skills.
We empower artists to develop a discerning eye, engage in constructive conversations, and provide a judgment-free platform for growth.
Beirut Physical Lab offers diverse workshops for emerging performers and movement enthusiasts, fostering skill development, expanding our regional movement vocabulary, and promoting personal and collective growth.
Through collaborations with local and international artists, Beirut Physical Lab amplifies artistic voices, enriching Beirut’s cultural tapestry and enhancing appreciation for contemporary dance and physical theater. We aim to present a fresh perspective on these art forms in our local scene.
What do we do?
Workshops and Classes
We offer weekly contemporary dance classes focusing on technical and improvisation skills. By coming together regularly, dancers have the opportunity to move and grow together in a supportive and safe environment. We also organize workshops with established local and international professionals. The workshops offer advanced training and creative exploration for professional dancers/performers while also providing an open space for all practices to include movers enthusiasts that want to discover more the art of movement and connect with their bodies.
DanceLabs
In collaboration with local and international artists, we organize intensives that offer a range of durations, including short intensives lasting less than a month and longer ones that extend beyond a month. These intensive practices provide a valuable platform for emerging artists to refine their skills and learn from experienced professionals. During the intensives, participants engage in rigorous training and creative exploration, culminating in the creation of a performance. These performances are then showcased across Beirut and various locations in Lebanon, allowing the emerging artists to share their artistic expressions with a wider audience.
Performances
Performances are created in multiple ways. They can be the result of an intensive practice, our annual BeiRoot Bodies performance, guest performances and from artists within our community. Providing exposure for artists, a platform to showcase their art, and fostering a supportive and constructive environment for both performers and audience members, enriching the contemporary dance and physical theater scene.
Spaces
We aspire to establish and provide dedicated practice spaces for contemporary artists in Beirut— spaces that meets their specific needs and fosters creativity, collaboration, and growth. Providing a supportive environment for artists to develop their skills, create new work, and exchange ideas. We aim to provide artistic residencies, rental space for workshops and rehearsals, and hope to facilitate the growth of the local dance scene.
Festivals
Inviting local and international artists to contemporary/physical theater festivals. We seek to create a platform for diverse performances and expanding artistic experiences in Beirut. These festivals will offer networking opportunities for local and international artists, fostering collaborations and cultural exchanges.
Research and Exploration
At the core of our projects and creations are dance labs and movement research. We aim to explore movements that are rooted in our bodies, collective history, and everyday life. We embrace the richness of our cultural heritage and roots and integrate them into contemporary dance and physical theater.
للترجمة إلى اللّغة العربية، أنقر على الصفحة الثانية
This contemporary dance workshop will focus on developing awareness in the way we articulate our bodies. We will explore three volumes: the hips, the rib cage and the head. The aim is to understand, feel and sense how these body parts come together and connect; to release unnecessary tensions and find ease in movement.
The first part will consist in stretching, placement and posture exercises based on my experience in contemporary dance and different types of body work such as Klein technique1, Alexander Technique2 and Body-Mind Centering3.
The second part of the workshop will be dedicated to approaching dance by identifying different body systems and working with specific improvisational tools to challenge/undo habitual movement patterns.
The second week end will be a buildup on the first and will focus on ways to observe and perform dancing.
Limited to 12 people. You can participate to one or two weekends. Once you commit, it is preferable to take a full weekend.
*These workshops are addressed to dancers and movers regardless of the style they practice.
Fees: 50$ / Or daily Lebanese pound rate for the whole sessions. 30$ for 2 sessions.
For reservation, contact us on:
Whatsapp: 00961-70390608
Or contact us via our social media platform.
Or via email: info@beirutphysicallab.org
للترجمة إلى اللّغة العربية، أنقر على الصفحة الثانية
Interested dancers willing to take part of an intensive performance project in April 2023, led by the choreographers Simea Cavelti and Bassam Abou Diab, are invited to attend this masterclass.
We also welcome any other dancer willing to join without taking part of the April performance.
Masterclass 1:
Led by: The Swiss choreographer and dancer, Simea Cavelti
Date: 5th of November 2023.
Time: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: Huna Center, Hamra, Beirut
Fees: 15$ / Or daily Lebanese pound rate
Masterclass 2:
Led by: The Swiss choreographer and dancer, Simea Cavelti & the Lebanese Choreographer and dancer, Bassam Abou Diab
Date: 11th of November 2023
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Amalgam, Hamra, Beirut
Fees: 15$ / Or daily Lebanese pound rate
In the two masterclasses, the choreographers expect from all participants a willingness to dive into a creative process, work closely within a group context and be open to trust the journey before seeing the result.
How can you apply?
-1- Go to our main page website: www.beirutphysicallab.com
-2- Click on the side bar
-3- Click on Application Form, fill it out, then submit (You can choose between Masterclass 1 or Masterclass 2)
Please note that filling the application forms requires between 2 to 3 minutes only.
Choreographers will review all submitted applications and make their selection.
Be Many! We are excited to our have you in our Masterclasses!
للترجمة إلى اللّغة العربية، أنقر على الصفحة الثانية
“Beirut Physical Lab” held a workshop in contemporary dance and movement, with the French dancer and choreographer, Diane Fardon, for four hours. The participants discovered the special character of each of them, within similar movements. The workshop also focused on the impact of every personality and life of each dancer, on the body and expressions.
More than 15 dancers participated in the workshop, which was held in the context of “Beirut Physical Lab’s” objectives to expand the dancers’ skill sets and expose them to a variety of contemporary dance cultural exchange experiences.
We constantly hope to see you at the upcoming sessions.
للترجمة إلى اللّغة العربية، أنقر على الصفحة الثانية
In August 2022, Beirut Physical Lab held a dance workshop in movement and contemporary dance, with the Swiss dancer and choreographer, Mirjam Barakar. More than 40 people who are interested in the body movement and contemporary dance, participated the workshop.
The program concentrated on improving the fundamentals acquired from Middle Eastern dance and reinforcing the methods and fundamentals of dancers, before translating them into a contemporary dynamic language.
The workshop had been organized by Beirut Physical Lab and hosted at “Amalgam” studio in Beirut, and “Beit Sarmada” in El- Chouf.
We would like to thank the “Swiss Embassy in Lebanon and Syria” for supporting “Mirjam Barakar” visit to Lebanon.
You can view a set of photographs from the workshop “The Body in Infinite Motion”, on August 20, 21, 23.
للترجمة إلى اللّغة العربية، أنقر على الصفحة الثانية
Beirut Physical Lab is hosting an Intermediate Dance Workshop by Diane Fardoun. In this workshop, Diane will explore the special character of each dancer in similar movements, and dive deep into the unique interpretations.
Diane stated regarding this workshop: “I am very focused on the natural character of the dancer. It’s very precious how our life story inspires and impacts the body in movement, and its physical expression”. Diane also asks: “How can the same choreography be expressed differently? By adding interpretation and special touches”.
About Diane:
Diane is a French contemporary and aerial dancer, trained in Paris and performed for multiple choreographers in France. 7 years ago, she majored in Screenskin production and made her first documentary named “The Call of Dance in Sénégal”, which has been screened in festivals and events in Europe, Africa and America.
For further details and reservation, contact us on:
For further details and reservation, contact us on:
Whatsapp: +961 70 390 608
Facebook: @beirutphysicallab
Insta: @beirutphysicallab
Email: info@beirutphysicallab.org
This workshop is referring to dancers from contemporary dance to folklore dances who would love to intensify their movement skills in technique and improvisation. You will work with characteristics and ideas of the folklore dances from the Middle East movement and transfer it into a contemporary movement language.
Body in Infinite Motion (1), at the 20th of Aug:
The first part of the workshop will be more technical and contains a structured score of exercises that combines body posture, floor work and movement sequences.
The second part, based on improvisation merges into a movement research between oriental and occidental movement and is inspired by different aspects such as circles, spirals and waves through the body, repetitive movement sequences loosely based on trance and heal dances. In contrast we work on accents, shaking and trembling moves and try to build up various moving structures.
Body in Infinite Motion (2), at 21st & 23rd:
In this class based on improvisation refers to dancers/movers and enthusiastic people with or without previous knowledge in dance. Starting with a regular warm up you will learn very basic steps of the middle eastern folklore. With different exercises we start to work with these steps to get into communication, developing a moving encounter between oriental and occidental movement language.
Mirjam Barakar’s Biography:
Mirjam was formed in Switzerland and Italy as a Contemporary Dancer.
After 3 years as a dancer in the Italian Company “Kaleido Danse” of the two Choreographers Giovanna la Vecchia and Dario Greco she dived into the Middle Eastern Dance Culture and became a member of the Egyptian Folklore Group of Khaled Seif in Switzerland.
For 7 years she toured with this group and worked as a freelance dancer in the contemporary dance world with different Companies. During that time, she started to develop her own contemporary language based on movements of contemporary dance and the folklore of Middle Eastern dances and the north of Africa.
For more than 10 years she has been teaching and choreographing for different dance and theater groups in the West Bank and the Gaza-Strip. She became a specialist for Middle Eastern Dance Culture and teaches Worldwide her own dance language.
This workshop organized by “Beirut Physical Lab”, and sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in Syria and Lebanon, at Amalgam in Beirut, and Beit Sarmada in the El-Chouf.
For further details and reservation, contact us on:
Whatsapp: +961 70 390 608
Facebook: @beirutphysicallab
Insta: @beirutphysicallab
Email: info@beirutphysicallab.org
LAB FOR ARTIST (Brainstorming/ Bodystorming)2 days with Peggy Olislaegres comes within the framework of Bipod- Beirut International Platform of Dance, Beirut Physical Lab is collaborating with Omar Rajeh – Maqamat to organize an artist lab given by the international choreographer Peggy Olislaegrers on 24 and 25 May 2022, from 03:00 p.m till 07:00 p.m.
About The Lab:
What does it mean to be an artist nowadays? In this lab internationally acclaimed dance activist Peggy Olislaegers will challenge you to articulate your artistic practice, inviting you to contextualise your work. Which artistic research questions are driving your choreographic practice? And how are these questions resonating in the bigger framework of performing arts and the society we are living in? Be ready for an inspiring dialogue with your peers and Olislaegers.
About Peggy:
Peggy Olislaegers (1966) is a dancer, dramaturg and dance activist, working in hiphop, contemporary dance and ballet. She became an established adviser during her directorship of the Dutch Dance Festival (2010-2016), co-created innovative European projects like Act Your Age and Performing Gender, and has advised choreographers in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Taiwan and the Netherlands. She has been Artistic Associate of dance company Rambert/London, and is Associate on Research and Development of Dutch National Ballet.
To register you must fill out the form on:
https://beirutphysicallab.org/application-form/
Application deadline: Sunday, May 15, 12:00 noon, Beirut local time.
Within the framework of Bipod- Beirut International Platform of Dance 2022 and with the support of the Embajada de España, Beirut Physical Lab is collaborating with Maqamat to organize the workshop given by the Fabian Tohme from 21 to 25 May 2022.
About the workshop:
To be able to flow and unite the breath with the movement, we will begin by awakening the body with breathing exercises that work from the joints to the movement.
We’ll keep exploring and seeking for new ways to use the floor, focusing on different aspects of movement, dynamics, and space.
In the second phase, we’ll focus on touch and improvisation with a stated notion in order to explore and develop various interpretive aspects.
The outcome of this workshop will be a performance within the Bipod Festival.
To register for the workshop, you must fill out the form via the link below:
https://beirutphysicallab.org/application-form/
Application deadline: Sunday, May 15, 12:00 noon, Beirut local time.
About Fabian Thome:
Fabian received his diploma from Madrid’s Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza in 2004.
Since 2013, he’s been studying with choreographers like Sharon Fridman and Carlos Fernandez Fuentes to improve and expand his skills.
He is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor whose choreography has won first prize at the XXXIII edition of CERTAMEN COREOGRAFICO DE MADRID 2019 and Best Interpretation at the Burgos-New York Contest in 2014.
In June 2015, he joined Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Eatsman as a dancer and teacher.
للّغة العربية، يمكنكم الانتقال إلى الصفحة التالية