Swiss Artists on Arab region’s Stages: Fall Festival Season

Pro Helvetia Kairo, Arts represchentativs, Musica

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From the vibrant streets of Cairo and Alexandria to the bustling cities of Rabat and Casablanca, Swiss artists have been active participants in various festivals across the Arab region. These encounters, encompassing dance, music, and theater, have served to both highlight Swiss talent and deepen mutual understanding between Switzerland and the Arab region.

Lorenzo di Finti Quartet at the Cairo International Jazz Festival

Swiss jazz pianist and composer Lorenzo di Finti performed with his band, the Lorenzo di Finti Quartet, at the 16th edition of the Cairo International Jazz Festival. Their music blends extended improvisation with delicate arrangements, juxtaposing melancholic piano moments with explosive bursts of energy.

As part of the Cairo Jazz Festival, the band performed twice: once in the Great Hall of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and again at the Ewart Hall of the Tahrir Culture Center in Cairo. They also led a workshop titled “Blending Jazz and Rock in Contemporary Jazz Improvisation” at the Oriental Hall of the Tahrir Culture Center in Cairo.

The 16th Cairo Jazz Festival took place from October 31st to November 8th, 2024. This edition featured a diverse lineup of musicians from 15 countries, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK and Egypt. 

P-E-P Dance Company at Les Rencontres Chorégraphiques de Casablanca

Photo by Jenna Hendrey

Swiss dance company P-E-P’s piece IUMI, performed by Jenna Hendrey and Matilda Bilberg, was a highlight of the 10th Les Rencontres Choréographiques de Casablanca. Inspired by the concept of an embrace, the duo delved into the nuances of intimacy and privacy, exploring the boundaries between self and other. Through attentive listening and physical connection, they created a captivating performance that invited audience participation.

In addition to their performance, Hendrey and Bilberg conducted a masterclass with local Moroccan dancers, sharing their artistic insights and participating in a practice-sharing session.

The festival took place from October 8th to the 13th, 2024. It aims to stimulate cultural reflection and create bridges for fostering encounters between artists and partners. Cultural exchange, international cooperation, and multidisciplinary encounters are its primary objectives.

The Two at Visa For Music

Swiss-Mauritian duo The Two, comprising Thierry Jaccard and Yannick Nanette, performed a unique blend of blues and Creole rhythms at the 11th edition of Visa For Music in Rabat, Morocco. The duo participated in the music market and speed meetings held throughout the three-day festival.

Swiss presence at Visa For Music also included Paleo Festival artistic director Jacques Monnier, Ursina Sprenger from Afro-Pfingsten Festival, Tidiane Diouwara from Lausanne Afro Fusions Festival and Marc Ridet, programmer and former Swiss Music Export director, who explored the international music market and forged valuable connections.

Visa For Music is a hybrid event combining a music industry market and a forum (conferences, masterclasses, workshops). This year’s edition, held from November 20th to 23rd, 2024, featured a rich and diverse program with artists from over 35 countries.

Erik Altorfer’s Writing Workshop at D-CAF

Photo by Mostafa Abdelaty

Swiss artist Erik Altorfer led a writing workshop at the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) in Cairo. The workshop explored the complex relationship between collaboration and individual authorship in performance texts. Participants from Egypt, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland, including playwrights, poets, and visual artists, delved into this topic through writing exercises and discussions. The workshop focused on themes like memory, history, and the power of transformation.

D-CAF is an annual international multidisciplinary festival that showcases contemporary work in various disciplines, including performing arts, visual arts, and music. The festival provides a platform for artists from around the world to connect, collaborate, and share their work with a diverse audience.

Anna Chiedza at Theatre Is a Must

Photo from Theatre is a must

Swiss choreographer Anna Chiedza Spörri performed her piece “Perspectives” at the 9th edition of the Theater Is a Must Festival in Alexandria, Egypt. “Perspectives” is an artistic exploration of individual and collective experiences of racism in the form of microaggressions, bringing the inner dialogues of people of color living in Switzerland and Europe to the stage. These different perspectives are expressed relentlessly and powerfully through an interdisciplinary approach combining Hip Hop and contemporary dance, spoken word, original sounds, and beats. This approach creates space for confrontation, debate, and vulnerability. Anna also led a three-day Hip Hop workshop with experienced and professional local dancers.

The Theater Is a Must festival focuses on political theater. This edition, titled “Repossess,” examines the microcosmical resonances of decolonization and the nuances of human experiences. The showcased performances explore how each perspective is fundamentally unique according to their geo-political context. The festival took place from November 8th to 11th, 2024.

More info for festivals and platforms

Curators, programmers and festival directors on the region wanting to invite Swiss work to their platform

Please note that similar funding options are available for each discipline for guest performances outside Switzerland.