MARAH HAJ HUSSEIN & NUR GARABLI / MONTY
In relation to whom?
مرتاحة؟
As part of 100% L'EXPO
1h
This project brings together Marah Haj and Nur Garabli, two Palestinian artists. Marah grew up in Kofor Yassif and is currently based in Antwerp. Nur was born in Ajami, in Jaffa, where she currently lives. In a context of ongoing dislocation, they seek to meet, build connections, and work together for the first time. Carrying the shared realities of occupied Palestine, while experiencing them differently, what might such an encounter reveal?
As dance makers, they begin from the internalized violence shaped by their dance educations—imbued with a militarized vocabulary and other Western techniques they carry within them—in order to propose a rewriting of a choreographic language of their own. Interweaving their trajectories in a non-linear way, they resist fixed meanings of the past as well as predetermined futures, and instead propose to embody a more intimate transmission inherited from their mothers and grandmothers.
“This creation questions how our experiences collide. It is an archaeological process in which we dig into our bodies as a living, transformative material rooted in the present. It brings together contradictions and vulnerabilities, humor and tension. It is an attempt to reshape our minds by befriending our bodies in a liberating and transformative way.”
Marah Haj Hussein is a dancer, actress, and creator from occupied Palestine, currently based in Antwerp. In her work, she explores power structures embedded in language, often bringing together theatre and dance through physical, political, and poetic encounters on stage. In 2025, she won the Actors’ Award for Best Performance in the under-35 category.
Nur Garabli is a choreographer, dancer, and artistic director based in occupied Jaffa. Her work lies at the intersection of folklore and contemporary dance, where tradition evolves into a living, constantly transforming movement. Through her body, she explores memory as an archive—an active space of resistance, documentation, and continuity. Nur co-organized Moving Together (2022 and 2023), a festival that brings women together through dance and a shared heritage.
At the end of April 9th performance, a discussion will take place between the artists Marah Haj Hussein and Nur Garabli, and the Gazan poet Mohammed al Qudwa. The conversation will focus on the shared issues that run through their respective practices, echoing the themes of the performance; it will be moderated by Geoliane Arab.
Geoliane Arab: Professional in international cultural cooperation and an expert for the European Commission, she supports artistic and cultural projects, particularly in connection with scenes from the Arab world.
Mohammed al Qudwa: A poet and performer from Gaza, now based in France, he explores the links between memory, war, and identity through writing and the body. He is currently developing Three Seasons and a Body.
Performance in Arabic, surtitled in English
Concept and performance Marah Haj Hussein & Nur Garabli Dramaturgy and artistic collaboration Krystel Khoury Lighting design Pôl Seif Costume Smila Zinecker Music and composition Verena Rizzo Sound management Korin Rizzo Set design Agnese Forlani
Production management Ehren Verrelst Production Monty Co-production Kunstencentrum BUDA ; Saraya Theater ; Theater Rotterdam ; Points communs – Nouvelle scène nationale Cergy-Pontoise / Val-d’Oise ; Fondation Royaumont ; La Villette/EPPGHV ; Centre national de la danse (CND) ; De Singel ; La Briqueterie CDCN ; Les Halles de Schaerbeek ; Frascati Producties ; Le Maillon, Théâtre de Strasbourg With the support of the Flemish Government | Ammodo Acknowledgements to Rabeah Morkus Dance Studio – Kofor Yasif I The Work Room – Glasgow I Battersea Arts Centre – London I KAAP – Bruges I Hana Dance House – Haifa and all those who supported us throughout.
Practical information
Grande Halle – Salle Boris Vian
Métro
Ligne 5 - Porte de Pantin
Tram
Tram 3b - Porte de Pantin
Bus
Bus 75, 151 : Porte de Pantin
Bike GH
Vélib' docking points
Bike racks
Electric bikes
A battery container is located in front of the Grande Halle.
Parking
Q-Park
Philharmonie
Q-Park
Cité de la Musique - La Villette
Q-Park
Cité de la Musique - Conservatoire
Parking
Cité des Sciences
- Accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM). Please contact 01 40 03 75 75
- Partially accessible to deaf individuals, depending on the programming.
- Partially accessible to individuals with hearing aids, depending on the programming.
- Partially accessible to visually impaired and blind individuals.
- Accessible to individuals with psychological, cognitive, and intellectual disabilities.
- Several dining options are available in the park before or after the show. Discover them HERE.
Access to the venue is subject to security checks.
- The following items are prohibited: all glass containers, sharp or blunt objects, weapons of any kind or replicas, animals (except guide dogs for the visually impaired), large luggage or bags, and batteries for electric bikes or scooters. Security staff have the final say on which items are allowed inside.
- Bringing food into the performance hall is not permitted.
Partenaires
Partenaires Médias
