Rooftop Rituals is a multidisciplinary dwelling on a classic downtown rooftop. Two physical performers and a musician invite you to become part of their playful explorations of this in-between space. Linger with them between city and sky, between private and public, history and potential, chaos and overview, care and neglect. In movements, sounds, texts and gentle invitations towards audience interaction, the rooftop becomes a space of wonder, wander, creativity and connection.
Rooftop Rituals is a brand new site-specific work-in-progress that was created in the two months running up to DCAF. It flows out from Ilja Geelen’s earlier work on rooftops. What started as her individual contemporary dance training on the roof of her temporary home in Tétouan in 2021, grew into a short film, performance and artistic research bringing together rooftop dances in Morocco and the Netherlands, together with filmmaker Yassine Abouhamid.
Geleen re-explores the domain of rooftops in the vibrant context of downtown Cairo, together with Nada Elissa and Mark Labib. Whereas earlier iterations focused on themes of seeing and being seen, nostalgia and freedom, this time the main theme is connection.
Credits:
•Direction: Ilja Geelen in collaboration with the performers •Performance: Nada Elissa, Ilja Geelen, Mark Labib •Music and Sound Design: Mark Labib •Production: Sudoku for Arts •Support: Anna Lindh Foundation •
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