Ali Chahrour on Dance, Ritual, and Resistance in Lebanon

Lebanese choreographer Ali Chahrour discusses his artistic practice, which draws on local stories, rituals, and the body as a political tool. Trained in theater at the Lebanese University due to the lack of dance faculties in Lebanon, he cites Pina Bausch as a major influence. His work explores themes of memory, the sacred and profane, taboos, and family relationships, but he insists he represents only himself, not his culture. Chahrour views dance as a political act in the Arab world, where the body, especially the female body, is heavily regulated. His trilogy on love includes 'Night (Layl),' presented at the Napoli Teatro Festival Italia, which tells stories of lovers killed or separated due to sex, religion, or politics. He emphasizes the importance of interviews with ordinary people, such as mothers and relatives, as inspiration. Chahrour notes that while Beirut audiences love dance, the scene faces challenges due to lack of government support. He describes dance as his only power—a political, intimate, poetic tool for resistance.