This danced conference, produced with the support of ArTeC (University Paris 8-Saint Denis) and Art Jameel Dubai, has been organized to present the results of the research carried out in Abu Dhabi and Dubai about two of the traditional “dances” from the Emirates included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Catalogue (the “Al-Ayyala” in 2014 and “Al-Razfa” in 2015). If we put the word “dance” in quotation marks in this text, it is to point out the external nature of this term, because local practitioners of these cultural forms use terms such as “game” or “performance” when referring to them, reserving the word “dance” for foreign art forms mostly practiced by women in cabaret and other entertainment-related contexts. The aim of this dance conference is to provide an overview of the generally diverse landscape of choreographic forms in the UAE that have ended up extolling and privileging Ayyala as a symbol of national identity, becoming a permanent activity in official acts, cultural diplomacy events and national holidays, and often danced in outdoor spaces, gardens and monuments. Secondly, the conference offers a tour through the “ins and outs” of this dance to understand the richness of its movements, the complexity of the theatrics which it sets in motion and the learning that we can get out of this type of cultural expression as “Western” observers.

Fernando López Rodríguez is a dancer, philosopher and researcher of dance. With a PhD from the Université Paris 8-Saint Denis, he has been the director of his own choreographic project since 2009, combining contemporary artistic creation with academic research in the field of dance.

Related content:
Al-Ayyala  
Al-Razfa