Caracalla Dance Theatre- Lebanon

[lallakahina]

Does anyone have any experience with this dance theatre? A friend in Lebanon has suggested to me that the company hires based on skill, not experience, and that foreigners are eligable to join. I'll be in that area this summer, but I'm a little wary about sounding like a fool asking about opportunities there. Does anyone have any general suggestions about joining a dance company in the Middle East?

[dancingrrrlz]

You might ask Suhaila Salimpour. I think she attended some of his classes/company workouts during her short stay in Lebanon.

I think you would have to have a strong ballet background to audition for that company.

[*Shira*]

Caracalla is the name of an ensemble, not of a person. Suhaila was never a member.

It is Lebanon's leading folkloric dance company, sort of Lebanon's cultural equivalent of Reda Troupe as it relates to prestige.

Caracalla is particularly known for telling stories through dance. For example, they were highly acclaimed for a performance they did in England in which they told the story of Taming of the Shrew through dance.

Their choreographic style tends to be a fusion of debke with modern dance. I would urge anyone interested in auditioning to acquire (if you don't already have it) a strong background in ballet and modern dance. Debke would help, too.

[emma-bessa]

*waves at Shira*:)

No,I don´t think that you sound like a fool at all(and neither will they!)

First of of all,
the Caracalla shows I´ve seen is ballet/jazz/modern with a tiny oriental "spice" threwn in.

Rida Troupe is much more traditional than Caracalla.
(I have been happier to take lessons with dancers and teachers from the Kawmiyya Troupe,just my humble opinion)

Shira is right,a strong background in western dances is required.
A Raqs Sharqi dancer or a folklore dancer would probably feel ??what are we doing??

Anyway,
it won´t hurt to contact them and go for an audition,do you speak french?

[bul_bul_ksa]

I saw them perform at the Peacock Theatre in London about 6 years ago and they were wonderful.

[dancingrrrlz]

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Caracalla is the name of an ensemble, not of a person. Suhaila was never a member.

Abdul Halim (sp?) Caracalla is/was the founder and director. Think some of the younger generation are involved now too. They are testimony to the tenacity of artists in Lebanon who continued to create despite the war(s).

I think it was the "Black Tents" production that I saw. I would classify their style as sort of Graham-esque. Wish I could remember the name of their Tunisian-born prima. She was as light as a feather.

Did I imply that Suhaila was a member? I said that I thought that she attended some of their classes while in Lebanon. I seem to remember her saying that she was grateful for her modern and ballet training when she did so.

Marcel Khalife composes for them sometimes, I believe. Lalla, why don't you see if they still have open rehearsals or classes? If you have ballet, it would be cool to be involved, even peripherally, in a Caracalla/Khalife collaboration.

[meissoun]

The daughter of the founder, Alisar Caracalla, has a dance school in Beirut.

I went there twice, once for Oriental dance, once for Caracalla style. I'd say the style is very balletic.

But I haven't had any contact with them since then.

MEISSOUN

[lallakahina]

I didn't make it to Lebanon on this last travel to the Middle East, but now I know they have classes. Thanks for all the info... maybe Beirut for next time, insha'allah!