Thread: Theatrical Zaar on stage, open for opinions

Hi all !

Yes ... I did it ! i wanted it for years, and finaly did it !

This is a theatrical version of Zaar with my students, the previous choreo was a fusion of modern dance with oriental in a desperate way !

Maria Aya or total Malema Magnuna ;)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMM-QagMb1A]YouTube - Theatrical Zaar arabic ceremony "Rachel Brice Show" Athens[/ame]

This is confusing to me. Why was the woman on the ground at the beginning of the piece? The whole idea is that women dance themselves into a trance to commune with their possessing spirit(s). They fall to the ground at the end.

Very interesting! I love trance dances - both for actual use and well-done performance theater as well.

My interpretation of the piece is that we the viewers are coming into this scene in the middle of a healing ritual for the woman laying on the ground (who may have already been through several rounds of dancing/trancing as the musicians try to find the song that corresponds to the djinn that is over her), and the other women come in to aid her/lend energy to the piece. Her movements (the downed woman) and working with the cloth remind me a lot more of the Tarantella (where the inflicted lays on a white cloth, writhing, holding on to red ribbons or hankerchiefs) than the Zar, but in reality, deep trance movements can be very universal, so I think that read well.

I have confess, the strange thing that bothered me for some reason is not being able to see your hands for most of the dance because of the long opaque sleeves. I'm not sure why, but it was disturbing to me.

I had to think about this a little. I'm not as bothered by the hands not showing, as I am about not seeing energy in the arms/hands. I couldn't see if you were doing hand gestures. I guess the whole "heeling hands" thing works in mid air too.

Also, I would like to have seen the sick woman over come the Djinn/spirit. In my mind I was thinking, "Did she get better?" The work with the fabric as nice, fighting to get control, as if in pain. I just wanted her to win!

I did like it and I was able to understand what you were presenting. It also sounded like your audiance could feel the energy from the performers.

Thank you all for the input ! food for think !

About the long sleeve thing, didnt thought about it, but have to think now.

As usual my group work with the arab embassies i knew that i could never ever present a zaar in these events.
So I found the opportunity to Rachel Brice Fusion show to do it.
Yes if you see the video before of the solo it connects but... got to make Elena to post it, she dont like her self (who like him self while dancing??? he he)
What we wanted to give to the audience we achieved, they felt the energy, they got that its not a "dance", they got that it is universal.
Personaly I believe that it is universal as there are many ceremonies in various tribes, countries that get people into a trance dance.

ty again :)

p.s. yes the video is not good grrrr

Wow, Maria Aya, I can only imagine how thrilling it might have been for all of you to perform this piece. I wish I had seen it live!

Originally Posted by MariaAya

Thank you all for the input ! food for think !

About the long sleeve thing, didnt thought about it, but have to think now.

As usual my group work with the arab embassies i knew that i could never ever present a zaar in these events.
So I found the opportunity to Rachel Brice Fusion show to do it.
Yes if you see the video before of the solo it connects but... got to make Elena to post it, she dont like her self (who like him self while dancing??? he he)
What we wanted to give to the audience we achieved, they felt the energy, they got that its not a "dance", they got that it is universal.
Personaly I believe that it is universal as there are many ceremonies in various tribes, countries that get people into a trance dance.

ty again :)

p.s. yes the video is not good grrrr

Yes, please ask Elena to post her performance video. It's so exciting to see theatrical performances. It give a better understanding if we see the entire performance!