The Al Andalus Project is the multi-year focus of Dancepatheatre. It encompasses numerous events and a complex creative process, all culminating in future performances of Al Andalus! The Legend.
Al Andalus! The Legend is a multi-disciplinary dance epic featuring singers, actors, nearly twenty dancers, live music and video. Al Andalus is the Arabic name for Andalusia (southern Spain) during the eight hundred years of Moorish and Berber rule in that region (711-1492 c.e.). The production celebrates the legendary exchange of knowledge and cultures, the leaps forward in sciences, math, philosophy and the arts of that period, as well as the relative peace among Muslims, Christians and Jews. Against this backdrop, Al Andalus! reveals a fictional but classic tale of inter-ethnic love featuring characters that are based on historical figures. The stage is populated with pilgrims, troubadours, mystics, and other colorful characters. Narration in English, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew is woven into this spectacle.
This production was conceived with the entire family in mind and should be wonderful entertainment for adults and children alike.
Sara Draper’s choreography is a blend of the influences of the Al Andalus period with modern dance. Those influences include North African, Middle Eastern, Sephardic (Spanish-Jewish), and the pre-Flamenco elements of the era. Likewise the music includes traditional songs and tunes as well as contemporary music influenced by these cultures, and those of northern medieval Spain. Additional original music has been composed by Sharon Joy for this production. Phase I featured primarily recorded music (except for the singing characters), whereas Phase II will feature primarily live music.
Dancepatheatre began its 2007-2008 season with a performance of this production-in-progress at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex on Saturday, August 11, 2007. The performance sold out with a waiting list of one hundred. About forty individuals remained after the show to participate in the talk-back session with the creative team, and that important audience feedback is being carefully considered as the artistic team continues the creative process.
Phase I was used by Artistic Director/choreographer Sara Draper and her collaborative partner, Music Director/composer Sharon Joy, to research and write the story and to create the core production for the August 11th performance.
Phase II supports continuing artistic investigation and several events including a workshop, a tour and a lecture, as listed on the Events page.
Future phases will address additional production elements including coordinated designs for new costumes, sets, and lighting, plus video projection, live narration performed by multi-lingual actors, and additional live music. Houston’s own Arabic and Sephardic musicians will serve as the orchestra. Al Andalus themed coloring books and beautiful, educational souvenir books will be available at the May performances.
Sara Draper (Artistic Director, Choreographer)
Sharon Joy (Music Director, Composer)
Consultants on this project include:
Kristina Koutsoudas (Middle Eastern and North African dance, history, and culture);
Lucia Rodriguez-Sanchez of Gitanerias Flamenco, (Spanish dance and history);
Valdemar Phoenix, guitarist of Gitanerias Flamenco (Spanish music history);
Ady Fisberg (Sephardic folk dance);
Isabelle Ganz (Sephardic music);
Khaled Al-Jamal (Arabic music)
Rebecca Green Udden (stage direction).
The August cast included singers from Lebanon and from Cuba and two gypsy-style singers of canto jondo. Modern dancers specially trained in Andalusian styles were featured, and Kristina Koutsoudas and Lucia Rodriguez-Sanchez each danced solos. Future performances will feature mezzo-sopranos Isabelle Ganz and Misha Penton and other new cast members as well as some of the Phase I cast.
For an inside peek behind the scenes, read choreographer Sara Draper’s latest blog entry about the Al Andalus Project.
Special events connected to the Al Andalus Project are planned throughout the 2007-2008 season. A few of these events are:
- Al Andalus! The Legend Phase I, August 11, 2007 workshop performance
- The Legendary Soiree, a splendid fundraising event on November 18, 2007
- Dance Styles of Al Andalus Workshop, January 19, 2008
- Tour to Northwestern State University (Natchitoches, Louisiana), March 18-19, 2008
- SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) presentation by directors Sara Draper and Sharon Joy, April 19, 2008
For details on upcoming events, click here.
Phase I of the Al Andalus Project was funded by the City of Houston through a Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist New Works Fellowship awarded to choreographer Sara Draper. In-kind support came from University of Houston’s Center for Choreography, Urgeworks, and by generous individual supporters of the company.
Funding for the complete realization of the Al Andalus Project is ongoing and your individual and business support is needed. Please make a generous contribution on our Support page.
