The abandoned factory in Karantina, where the performances on June 14 by the Amalgam studio will take place. (Credit: Haig Melikian)
Located in the heart of the Lebanese capital, Studio Amalgam was born in 2015 under the initiative of Yara Boustany, a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer and dancer trained in Spain and the Netherlands. Upon her return to Lebanon, she felt the need to create a space for meetings and exchanges in Beirut, a place where artists from all backgrounds could come together to create.
"The Lebanese artistic and cultural landscape gives little space to this kind of alternative performance. Moving away from commercial stages also allows artists in search of unique spaces to express themselves," said Boustany. She was joined by Director Rasha Baroud in 2019, and later by Farah Naboulsi, production manager, in 2022, forming the core of this initiative. Over the years, it has become a true artistic archipelago where workshops, research, courses, festivals and international collaborations take place.
Ode to living art
This independent space for performing arts revolves around movement, contemporary dance and physical theater, which is precisely what Amalgam's 10th anniversary program offers this year. Until June 14: film and documentary screenings on dance (at Metropolis and Barzakh), conferences, workshops and performances. The closing night, which will take place on June 14, offers a unique artistic event that will come to life in an unusual location: a disused iron factory (located in the Karantina), partially destroyed by the double explosion at the port, once a church, now an open-air space "where the walls still bear the scars of time," recounted Baroud.
This raw setting creates an unusual backdrop where two performances will be presented for the very first time that evening. First, "Plastispheres," directed by choreographer Boustany, is a performance that is a culmination of two months of intense collective research and unprecedented artistic crossovers. Then "Restless Sun," bringing together eight artists from various disciplines: dance, theater, music and visual arts. Followed by an Indian music concert, an oriental dance show and a finale with DJ sets (Pöleyt and Bakisa). As a starting point, a common theme is "celebration and ritual." This resolutely multidisciplinary evening will blur the boundaries of art to make way for cross-experimentation and emotion.
Finally, with events offering free admission and others at very affordable prices, creating in Lebanon today requires persistence and a collective effort. So, if you wish, you can contribute to this venture via a fundraising effort available on-site or online through the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-10year-anniversary-of-studio-amalgam
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
