An attempt to understand my socio-political disposition

A solo on the edge of performance and stand-up comedy, about how art can NOT save the world.

“Halaby wants to stand up for the Palestinian cause, but every attempt to confront the audience with flash lights or a megaphone fail due to his own lack of commitment. This failure full of personal vulnerability has seldom been this clever and funny.”
De Morgen

An attempt to understand my socio-political disposition is the result of a research process in which Tarek looks into the varying and matching points between collective and personal stories, inside the choreographic creative processes. By presenting this piece as a ‘product’ in process, to finish or resolve, Tarek relates the work to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He questions and explores the ironies and paradoxes of art works with a deliberate political content.

EXTRA INFO

Project year: 2005
Duration: 40min.

CREDITS

Concept & performance: Tarek Halaby
Thanks to: Jan Ritsema, Sandra Iché, Rabia Aghrib, mijne ooms Jean en Samir Halaby, Dr. M.
Special thanks to: Mijn familie en vrienden, voor hun liefde, steun en interesse in dit project
Co-production: P.A.R.T.S.

PROJECT DATES

09/09/2009, PICA, Portland (US)
26/09/2009, MTSpace, Kitchener (CA)
27/09/2009, MTSpace, Kitchener (CA)
14/11/2008, E.g. CC Belgia, Mons (BE)
19/10/2008, Explore Festival, Boekarest (RO)
22/10/2008, Les Halles/Maserat, Brussels (BE)
01/05/2008, Cultural Palace Rar, Ramallah (PS)
02/05/2008, Cultural Centre, Nazareth (IS)
07/05/2008, Stadsschouwburg, Kortrijk (BE)
17/05/2008, Fabbrica Festival, Porto (PT)
11/04/2008, DeSingel/Bouge B, Antwerp (BE)
27/04/2008, Maqamat Theatre/i, Beirut (LB)
06/03/2008, NoNA/No new artis, Mechelen (BE)
24/02/2008, La Mekanika DBM, Barcelona (ES)
05/10/2007, iDans, Istanbul (TR)
12/10/2007, Meteor Festival, Bergen (NO)
13/10/2007, Meteor Festival, Bergen (NO)
29/09/2007, Kampnagel, Hamburg (DE)
30/09/2007, Kampnagel, Hamburg (DE)
01/03/2007, Tanzhausnrw Tanz, Düsseldorf (DE)
02/03/2007, Tanzhausnrw Tanz, Düsseldorf (DE)
24/03/2007, Zuiderpershuis, Antwerp (BE)
30/03/2007, Vooruit, Ghent (BE)
03/02/2007, Musica per roma, Rome (IT)
24/01/2007, De Brakke Grond/S, Amsterdam (NL)
04/11/2006, ccBE/Moussem Fé, Berchem (BE)

PRESS

Review, The New York Times: TAR-an-attempt-New-York-Times-Gia-Kourlas-ENG.pdf
Review, De Standaard: De-Standaard.pdf