Initiation
Cast:
- Concept: Mustafa Al Shalabi
- Producer: Studio 8, Mustafa Al Shalabi
- Choreography & performance: Mustafa Al Shalabi
- Film director: Hiba Nabulsi
- Assistant director: Bader Helatat
- Sound editing: Bader Helatat
- Movement advisor: Abd Al Hadi Abunahleh
- Production adviser: Xiaoman Ren
- Costume design: Mustafa Al Shalabi
- Set design: Jawad Qumseih
- Photography: Xiaoman Ren, Hiba Nabulsi, Reema Shatat
“Inspired by the traditional Islamic funerals, I want to create a ceremony where I shed all my history, washing my past with the old me to rise and face a new present and future.”
— Mustafa Al Shalabi (Choreographer)
Story Behind
“Shedding the old self by killing it, and rebirthing from scratch to start my new life.
This short dance is made of two parts:
Part I – Death, and Part II – Rebirth.
In the first part, I invited my mother to perform with me.
For she is the first person I saw when I was born, and would be the last person I wanted to see at my death bed.
In the second part, I perform ‘a dance of life’, encompass the spirit of the goodness of moon, return to earth.
Additionally, I have designed my costume based on the traditional long robe with long sleeves, worn by men from the Arabian peninsula.”
— Mustafa Al Shalabi (Choreographer)
Project “Initiation” has been realized as part of “Choreography Creation Camp” (CCC) organized by Studio 8, with the support of Drosos Foundation, EUNIC Jordan and European Union in Jordan.
What is CCC?
CCC is a pilot version of a talent incubation program that supports emerging local young choreographers, dance makers, performance directors to sustain their individual or collaborative creativity, and, in the process, finding new ways to be connected with their audiences.
To know more about CCC program, click on the big C button below. Get digital access to the teaching manual of CCC program, click on the on the big M button below.
Project “Initiation” has been realized as part of “Choreography Creation Camp” (CCC) organized by Studio 8, with the support of Drosos Foundation, EUNIC Jordan and European Union in Jordan.
What is CCC?
CCC is a pilot version of a talent incubation program that supports emerging local young choreographers, dance makers, performance directors to sustain their individual or collaborative creativity, and, in the process, finding new ways to be connected with their audiences.
To know more about CCC program, click on the big C button below. Get digital access to the teaching manual of CCC program, click on the on the big M button below.
Feedback
helpful information that is given to emerging dance makers of what can be done to improve a dance piece.
“Very nice aesthetic.”
“Very good quality of image.”
“I liked the music a lot and I found it emotional and inspiring.”
“I liked the location and the symbolism.”
“The costume and all the props were nicely chosen and used.”
“But I got confused with the story, because I read about the two parts of death and rebirth, but it seems that the part of death was only the introduction of the film and not an actual part of it. I think the story line is a little bit scuffled. We see the red cloth with the flowers at the beginning, the they disappeared without any transition. Then we see ecstatic dance. There are some glimpses of the red cloth again but the flashbacks appeared with no clear narrative reason.”
“There is another note that for this short film is that for viewers, it seems that the point of highest tension and drama of the film is where we see the performer dance under the sky. I suggest this scene could happen later in the film. If we have this scene closer to the ending of the film, viewers would likely to feel that they are participating in the excitement of the performer while watching.”
– Zafeiria Tsirakaki – Dancer, Choreographer, Contemporary and ballet teacher
“Beautiful! What’s the name of the song?”
“Wow! So pure and yet intense! So beautiful!”
Featured in the Project
Bader Helatat
Jawad Qumseih
Inner Life Institute
EUNIC Jordan
European Union in Jordan
Drosos Foundation