Interview Beiruting.com with Alissar Caracalla:
1. How do the physical bodies in dance speak?
The body is a tool for the dancer, a tool that can speak a universal language. A dancer by using his/her body can express a concept, a story and speak the idea to the audience.
However, the body alone does not suffice; a dancer needs to fuse the spirit, the mind and the body to reach out to the audience.
2. What is the role or importance of music in the world of dance?
Music is a guide for the dancer, an inspiration for choreographer and dancer, music has to become one with the body so there is absolutely no separation between the music and the human body.
A great dancer allows the audience to hear the music even if they are not listening. The union of dance and music is what we call musicality, and experienced dancers become masters of musicality and hence, creating a beautiful art form.
3. Bringing the audience into an imagined setting would seem like an important way to give extra weight to the meaning of this piece. What means have you used to accomplish this?
Through choreography, scenario, sets, projection, costumes, music and lyrics the audience is guided towards the setting required. All these are tools used to set a mood and meaning for the performance, and with these tools we create.
4. Do you have any choreographers you'd like to work with?
I love working with my father Abdel-Halim Caracalla who is the Maestro of dance choreography, he has been my biggest mentor, role model and has inspired me throughout my life.
With foreign Choreographer there are many that are fantastic I could not name one, so I would enjoy working with anyone that has a great vision.
5. What should be done if a dancer isn't grasping the choreography?
Dancer need time to grasp the choreography, first they must memorize the steps, then perfect them, feel them and express them so that the choreography becomes second nature and through it the dancer becomes the story teller.
So time is needed for the mind and body to fuse together, if a dancer does not grasp then they must keep rehearsing until they do.
Dancers are extremely smart and they do memorize.
6. How does Caracalla dance school differentiate itself among other dance schools in Beirut? What makes it so special?
From Caracalla dance theatre has emerged our Dance school unique and special due to its extensive variety and array of dance styles. We pride ourselves in teaching the Caracalla dance technique which is unique to our institution and which represents the dance language of the company.
Our international teachers are highly trained in classical, contemporary modern and all forms of jazz, hip-hop and funky dance. Through their extensive dance education and experience with the Caracalla dance theatre they relay all their expertise to the student body.
Caracalla dance school is a home to our students.
7. What makes "KanYaMakan" very popular even to foreigners who don't understand Arabic? Is it because dancing is a language itself or is the reason related to certain characteristics you have as Caracalla Dance Company?
Dance is a universal language as we always say, and our audience abroad whether we are in London, Paris, USA, China or anywhere in the world are intrigued by our performances because we have a unique dance style that was created between the fusion of modern and classical dance technique with the spirit, colors and sound or the Orient and our Arabic heritage.
This dance style is unique and we refer to it as the Caracalla technique because it innovative as a dance form.
Our performances are aesthetically beautiful, as we create harmony between dance, music, cinematography and costumes making the show extremely rich in content.
8. What makes Caracalla shows appealing to any age group?
Beauty is appealing to all age groups, and dance is one of the most beautiful art forms which bring joy to all ages.
9. What is the reason behind Caracalla show's continuity over the years? For example we can see the presence of thousands of people to "kanyamakan" nowadays, how can you explain the reason?
The reason behind our continuation is hard work, the responsibility that we have towards preserving our heritage, the love and respect we have for this art form.
We are devoted in everything we do, true to our art and never stop at any challenge.
Abdel-Halim Caracalla created a dance theatre empire that has put Lebanon on the international map of dance culture, and it's our responsibility, my brother and I, to follow and continue this path.
10. A last word for beiruting.com?
I recommend you send all your readers to watch "KanYaMakan" while it's still playing at Theatre Caracalla.
Keep dancing J
By Anastasia Kuvalina & Sabine Sader
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