Contemporary Egyptian Dance by Hilal Dance Australia

Hilal Dance Concepts & Musical Expression >
10:30am–1:30pm > Sunday 10 June
Contemporary Egyptian Dance developed by the internationally renowned Egyptian artist Suraya Hilal. Exploring the language appropriate to various styles of Egyptian music using the Hilal Dance concepts of pendulum, scissor, spiral and yin/yang.

Visit www.hilaldanceaustralia.com.au for more details

Information & enrolments> rachael@hilaldanceaustralia.com.au or 0418 226 540

SURAYA HILAL: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER/DANCER
Cairo born Suraya Hilal is a leading international dancer/teacher and choreographer who has constructed and established the contemporary form, called Hilal Dance®. Drawing inspiration from her roots and informed by global contemporary dance practice, her art encompasses unique concepts and movements inspired by and connected to the Arab/Egyptian people, and resonate with a quality that is both ancient and modern.  
Suraya Hilal’s solo performance career began in the early ‘80s where she first performed her work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1980 and 1982. Suraya Hilal’s work progressed rapidly, receiving tremendous media coverage and critical documentation. Throughout the 80’s, Suraya continued to perform her solo work in small theatres across Britain.
Suraya Hilal’s major work began during the period 1989-1993. Supported by the Arts Council of Britain, Suraya toured extensively with her Arabic orchestra throughout the UK and Europe to tremendous popular and critical acclaim.
Some of her major works include Aseel 2004-05, Al Janub2001/03, Spirit of the Heart 1997, Return of the Spirit, Celebrations, Jewels, Divine Rites, Colours of Cairo, Rhythms of Cairo, and The Belovedand include innovative programmes such as “Journey to Light” in which she collaborated with a western 7-piece chamber orchestra. In March 2008 Suraya & her Company successfully premiered the new classical productions Oscillations and El Mizan which are currently touring.
Hilal’s work has been the subject of documentaries by Channel 4, ITV, the BBC and interviews on international television including a specially commissioned unique choreographic and narrative piece directed by Terry Braun for BBC 2’s The Late Show.
Suraya Hilal’s artistic career has always developed in parallel with an intense didactic activity of work. Through years of field research, Suraya has studied, documented and delved into the knowledge of the traditional dances of Egypt and the Arab world. With this research in dance and the connection to its music, she has redeveloped the technique, refined the aesthetic, and most of all, defined the dance: This effort of codifying a choreographic language from the Egyptian matrix is the basis of Suraya’s teaching activity which began in London in the late ‘80s and spread across Europe.
Suraya Hilal collaborates with excellent artists and musicians and works with a team of qualified Teachers, Applicants and Associates. Together, through their inspired work, they promote, develop and teach Hilal Dance® throughout Europe and Australia.  

HILAL DANCE® is a contemporary form encompassing a holistic breath-based training and system of movement concepts that allow full exploration of a wide range of expression through the music and rhythm.  Hilal Dance is grounded, energetic and expansive. Working from a centred body, it expresses both fluidity and strong rhythm. The movements and training are lead by powerful concepts that embody ancient Eastern wisdom and knowledge. The dance is specifically related to the aesthetic that underlies Arab/Egyptian culture. This is reflected in the dramatic use of repetition and improvisation, the clear geometry of line, the importance of intricate movements that can expand outward into space, the emphasis on line both rhythmic and lyrical, and intricate details that create the whole in a language that is both abstract and emotional. The outstanding achievement of Hilal Dance is that it brings into view for the first time in the contemporary world a cultural based, progressive and universal form.

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