“Stop Calling Them Dangerous – Love Story Palestine”

“Stop Calling Them Dangerous – Love Story Palestine” is the 7th edition of a performance series about war and borders. Concept was created by Yoshiko Chuma, focusing on various themes such as Turkey, Afghanistan, and Yemen. This time, the performance is centered around Palestine, and from the viewpoint of Ryuji Yamaguchi—dance artist and educator based in Jordan for the past 16 years. The performance features stories and video images of numerous Palestinians, including those from Gaza, whom Ryuji has lived alongside. This multimedia performance will incorporate live dance, spoken text, music, and video, as well as the artwork of Dr. Khalid Khreis, “Southern Scream” on display at Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.
Created and directed by Ryuji Yamaguchi (@ryujiyamaguchi)
Concept by Yoshiko Chuma (@yoshikochuma)
Performers: Ryuji Yamaguchi, Emran Alamareen (@bboymowgliii), Rand Tadros, Kareem Abusalah (@shaiwka3k), Anas Alqatawi (@bboy_lil_nas_), Lour Madanat (@lourmadanat)
Tickets: 5 JDs Minimum
All proceeds will be donated to Gaza

Midan – Dance Performance

Midan – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by a group of dancers and musicians facilitated by Ryuji Yamaguchi. In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Eleanor Lardner, Kenzy Aldaher, Robyn Noftall and Ziqi Yu. The performance will be followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).

Endless Peripheral Border- Amman

“Endless Peripheral Border- Amman” is a choreographed chaos that explores the  theme of borders and their impact on our world. Directed by New York’s internationally acclaimed artist, Yoshiko Chuma, and co-directed by Jordan-based Ryuji Yamaguchi, twenty dancers and musicians will create a whirlwind of an experience.
Concept: Yoshiko Chuma
Direction: Yoshiko Chuma and Ryuji Yamaguchi
Produced by Midan-Amman Dance Lab, as part of Factory’s Jordan Art Residency & Studios Program (JARS) at Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
Supported by Jordan National Gallery and King’s Academy
Assistant Director: Emran Al-amareen
Music: Saowah Music Group
Performers: Ahmad Jouhar, Anas Qatawe, Cedric Bezin, Elisabeth Carruel, Emran Al-amareen, Ibrahim Alzoubi, Kafa Gazawi,Kenzy Aldaher, Linn Jansson, Lour Madanat, Mahmoud Shraim, Malek Waseem,Manon Dumortier, Maxim Adham, Raad Tabari, Reema Asendar, Ryuji Yamaguchi, Salleh Bellagon, Tala Asendar, Wafa’ Alsangalawi.
Yoshiko Chuma and Ryuji Yamaguchi have created 9 major works in Jordan and Palestine Between 2007 and 2023, their work has involved over 100 Jordanian and Palestinian artists, and has been supported by the Japan Foundation three times, the Mid-Atlantic Fund, and the A.M. Qattan Foundation, allowing 40 Japanese and American artists to travel to the region.
This Event is part of “Midan– Dance Performance”, a monthly event organized and produced by “Midan: Amman Dance Lab” (@midandance), a contemporary dance company in residence at Factory’s Jordan Art Residency & Studios Program (JARS) (@factory_jordan) – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (@jngfa). As part of the residency, Midan: Amman Dance Lab also offers ongoing programming of dance technique classes, ChoreoLab, and dance/music improvisation jams.
The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Building 2
Tickets are 8JDs or 4JDs with a valid student ID.

Elements Jam by “Zajal Movement”

Join us in the closing “Elements jam” event of the “Zajal Movement” project!
This event revolves around what is known as the “cypher” – where artists gather to present their expressions, challenge and learn from each other. The Jam will include freestyle dance, beat-box battles, DJing, rap, and graffiti followed by a dialogue between the artists and the audience in order to shed light on topics of interest to the young hip-hop community in Jordan, as well as a tour through the Exhibtion of Zajal Movement that is currently held at the Jordan National Gallery Fine Arts.
Entry fee: 3 JDs in support of the participating artists.
Location: Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Building 1, 3rd floor.
This event is part of “Zajal Movement”, a project co-organized by “Underground Amman” and “the Emerging Art Projects” by Factory – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

Midan – Dance Performance

Midan – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by a group of dancers and musicians facilitated by Ryuji Yamaguchi. In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Kenzy Aldaher, Faris Kassisieh, and Ryuji Yamaguchi, followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).

Exhibition of Zajal Movement

Under the Patronage of HRH Princess Wijdan Al Hashemi
The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Cordially invites you to
the “Exhibition of Zajal Movement”
An exhibition centered around the local hip hop culture & its expressions at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts – Bulilding 1
This event is part of “Zajal Movement”, a project co-organized by “Underground Amman” and “the Emerging Art Projects” by Factory – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

Midan – Dance Performance

Midan – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by a group of dancers and musicians facilitated by Ryuji Yamaguchi. In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Lour Madanat, Emran Alamareen, Claire Pritchard. Followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).

Secret Journey – Sadeem

“Secret Journey — Sadeem” is directed by internationally acclaimed artist Yoshiko Chuma, and co-directed by Jordan-based Ryuji Yamaguchi. Presented as part of Amman Contemporary Dance Festival, the production is a multi-media choreographed chaos that displays the hopes and despair that our world faces today, and features 25 of Amman’s professional dance and music artists.
Sadeem, means haze or mist in Arabic, and the title highlights the multi-layered and the tangible but ephemeral nature of personal stories. The production features a diverse array of musicians and dancers from various socioeconomic classes, and from genres such as breakdancing, contemporary dance, dabke. www.midandance.com/secretjourneysadeem
Tickets are 8JDs, or 5JDs with a valid student ID.
Yoshiko Chuma (Japan/USA) is one of the most unique artists in New York City. A pillar in the post-modern dance scene since 1980s, her company The School of Hard Knocks have created thought-provoking performances in over 40 countries that is neither dance nor theater nor film nor any other predetermined category. Since 2007, The School of Hard Knocks and Midan: Amman Dance Lab have collaborated on 8 major performances in Jordan and Palestine.
“Secret Journey — Sadeem”, which is presented under Amman Contemporary Dance Festival, is also part of the ongoing project: Sadeem.
Sadeem is co-organized and produced by “Midan: Amman Dance Lab” and Factory’s Jordan Art Residency & Studios Program (JARS) – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, in collaboration with “Underground Amman”.

“Sadeem – Dance Performance”

Sadeem – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by Dance & Music Improvisation (DMI) Group, facilitated by Alaeddin Rahmeh and Ryuji Yamaguchi.
In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Emran Al-amareen, Salleh Bellagon, Raneem Nahhas, Ryuji Yamaguchi. The performances will be followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).
Sadeem, means haze or mist in Arabic. The name highlights the multi-layered and the tangible but ephemeral nature of dance. Sadeem – Dance Performance is a monthly event and the centerpiece to the multipart project: Sadeem. Sadeem also features three sub-programs: Dance and Music Improvisation (DMI), ChoreoLab, and Movement Workshop Series.
Sadeem is organized and produced by “Midan: Amman Dance Lab”, in collaboration with “Underground Amman”.
This project is part of Factory’s Jordan Art Residency & Studios Program (JARS) – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.
*In accordance with government regulations, kindly abide by all the sanitary and preventive measures.

“Elements Jam”

Join us for this Hip Hop Jam, coming up Thursday 03.03.2022 from 5 to 8 PM.

Sadeem: Dance & Music by “Zajal Movement”

Join us for a dance & music performance inspired by the ebbs and flows of peace and violence in the world, directed by Alaeddin Rahmeh and Ryuji Yamaguchi.
This 15-minute performance is a result of a month-long process of workshops. The performance will be followed by a symposium with the audience to discuss the themes presented.
At the Jordan National Gallery of fine Arts (Building 1 – 3rd floor)
Project Assistant: Mutasem Al-Abweh
Musicians:
Cedric Bezin
Scott Nicholas
Younis Al-magrbi
Dancers:
Angelina Mario Albandak
Muhamad al-asaf
Yasmin shalalda
Laith Anwar Al faouri
Emran Al-amareen
Lour Madanat
Tala Hussein
Mais Abu Jarur

“Zajal Movement” project

We are delighted to announce the launch of Zajal Movement, a project by Tales of Jordan and part of the Emerging Art Projects by Factory – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

This project contains three programs that will commence starting November 2021 and continue throughout 2022 at the premises of the Jordan National Gallery:

  1. Elements Jam: A monthly event open to the public that brings together youth for artistic and creative competition, inspired by the hip hop culture in Jordan. The Jam includes freestyle dance and beat-box battles, as well as showcases of DJing, rap, and graffiti.

2- Sadeem Dance and Music: A weekly symposium that invites emerging dancers and musicians to participate in improvisational sessions, mentored by professional artists. These sessions culminate in monthly performances and discussions open to the public. In collaboration with Midan: Amman Dance Lab.

3- Tales of Zajal Movement: A gallery exhibition that tells the story of hip hop culture in Jordan, from its inception to the present day. The exhibition will curate and showcase visual, audio, performance, and documentary elements, in addition to the artistic manifestations of “Zajal Movement” programs. The exhibition will be held in September and October 2022.

“Elements Jam”

We are glad to invite you to participate in and experience Elements Jam! Jams are a place where we come together to celebrate the culture and five art forms of hip hop: freestyle dance and beat-box battles, as well as showcases of DJing, rap, and graffiti.
The jam centers around a cypher where artists support, challenge and learn from each other in friendly competitions. The audience gets a front row seat to Amman’s best beat box and dance battles as well as showcases of dancing, rap, graffiti and DJ to highlight Jordan’s youth artists.
Program:
– Battles (Top 4 Beatbox, Break dance, and All style)
– Judge Showcases
– Rap showcase
– On site Graffiti art
– & Hip-hop music all evening
Entrance fee: 3 JD for audience in support of the participating art collectives.
At the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #1 – 3rd floor)

“Remote Closeness” Open Call

The Lab of the Future* invites creatives from various artistic backgrounds (performing arts, music and audio productions, visual and fine arts, poetry, video, film, design) to submit artworks as well as ideas for innovative artistic productions for the Remote Closeness event. .With this event, we are welcoming creatives to develop new approaches to remotely connect to, and interact with, each other and the world.
The event will take place in Jordan in July 2021 as part of “Factory’s Public Art Program” and will consist of an online exhibition, a public program with talks and workshops, an interdisciplinary exhibition at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (JNGFA), along with art trails through different neighborhoods of selected Jordanian cities, where QR codes link to certain artworks exhibited within the event.
All forms of art are welcome, whether physical or digital. If selected, they will be featured in the online exhibition and accessed virtually by the public from different points of entry (by scanning QR codes distributed throughout the country, on the event’s official Instagram account, other social media). Hence, if you intend to produce a physical work or a performative piece, it needs to be realized in a way that is compatible with being displayed digitally (for example by using videos, photographs, recordings, etc.). Only a few selected works will be shown in the physical exhibition at the JNGFA.
Artworks may interpret Remote Closeness in different ways, whether in content or form:
//Tackle notions of isolation caused by the new pandemic restrictions.
//Research / address the concepts of physical and emotional distance / closeness.
//Find approaches to engage the audience despite the distance.
//Create participatory experiences that draw the audience to co-create.
//Utilize the digital realm to create bonds, beyond the barrier of the screen.
//Push the boundaries of ‘forbidden’ proximities.
//Propose novel ways to utilize online platforms to display art productions.
The idea is not only to make your work available through a virtual platform, but to somehow adapt your work to create a tangible connection with the audience. How can it be engaging? How can you elicit some sort of participation? Or maybe even co-creation?
Application requirements:
// Application is open to creative practitioners based in Jordan and beyond
// Applications should be submitted in English or Arabic
// Applications must be submitted by May 17th by completing the online application form.
In case you submit an idea for a new production and you are selected, your production should be delivered by July 3rd and submitted in a format that can be digitally displayed (high quality video, recordings, pictures)
Applicants will be notified by June 4th.
Event dates: July 21st – July 25th
Selection criteria:
The selection is based on curatorial decisions. The jury is composed of the team members of the Lab of the Future and representatives from the organizing institutions (the JNGFA, the Goethe-Institut in Jordan and the Institut Français de Jordanie). Criteria that will be considered in the selection process are:
Originality, innovation and creativity of the concept/idea for the production
Compatibility with digital exhibition formats, whether production is digital or physical
Relevance of the art work to the overall theme
A balanced representation of different artistic genres
Artist and Production Fees:
For new productions: 300-500 JOD (depending on the nature of the production)
Lending fees for existing art works to be showcased in the framework of the event: 150 JOD
In addition, there is a limited provision for extra production fees that may be needed in case of larger productions. It will be awarded following the selection process and based on the applications received.
Copyrights:
In case your artwork/your production is selected, the organizing institutes will claim shared copy-rights for non-commercial purposes in order to share and publish the productions in the framework of the event and online (details will be laid out in the contract with the selected artists).
* The Lab of the Future is an interdisciplinary cultural research and experimentation project with the purpose of exploring the future of art events in the age of the new normal. It is run by a group of nine cultural practitioners from various backgrounds in Jordan and organized and supported by Factory’s Public Art Program / the JNGFA, the Goethe-Institut in Jordan, the Institut Français de Jordanie and funded by the Franco-German Cultural Fund.