Ali Chahrour concludes his Love Trilogy with the European premiere of The Love Behind My Eyes. The first part in the trilogy was performed at the 2019 edition of the KUNSTFEST. The show centres around the Persian-Arabic tradition of the “Ghazal”, a lyrical form of poetry from pre-Islamic times that peaked with poets such as Rūmī or Hāfiz in the 13th and 14th century. The originally erotic subject matter became intertwined with religious overtones which resulted in a heady mix of secular eroticism and mystical devotion. Written in the first person and performed as a chant, the ghazal enables especially intense forms of emotional expression, which Ali Chahrour has visualised and channelled into the bodies of his dancers. The religiously masked, erotic content of the poetry — also performed on stage — allows Chahrour to elegantly address many forms of love in his performance that are otherwise considered taboo in large parts of the Arab world — due to religious, political or social conventions. Chahrour’s reference is the legendary story about the muslim scholar Mohamed Bin Daoud: He fell in love at first sight with a beautiful, young man from Isfahan until he finally died of unfulfilled love.
Both international co-productions, which the KUNSTFEST WEIMAR will premier in Europe this year, are projects that Chahrour premiered in Beirut this spring despite the pandemic and the adverse economic circumstances of his homeland.
REGIE & CHOREOGRAPHIE — Ali Chahrour
MUSIK — Abed Kobeissy
LICHT & BÜHNE — Guillaume Tesson
MIT Chadi Aoun | Ali Chahrour | Leila Chahrour
PRODUKTION — Ali Chahrour
KOPRODUKTION — KUNSTFEST WEIMAR | AL MAWRED AL THAQAFI | FESTIVAL LES RENCONTRES À L‘ÉCHELLE — LES BANCS PUBLICS | HAMMANA ARTIST HOUSE
FÖRDERUNG — GOETHE-INSTITUT E. V.
