Oasis- Everything you ever wanted to know about the Middle East but were afraid to dance
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Fadi Khoury
July 18, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Dancer.
Where were you born? Where were you raised? Where did you go to school?
I was born in Baghdad Iraq raised in Baghdad and Beirut Lebanon. studied fine arts at the Lebanese university of fine arts in Beirut, business management at AOU in Beirut as well. modern dance techniques at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School in New York City.
Have you been part of FringeNYC in the past? If so, how did you particpate? (Be specific! Name shows, etc.)
NY2Dance participated last year in the Fringe NYC and Chicago with show "Wall Stories" that had great feedback and attendance it's really been a wonderful experience despite the fact that we had to cancel three shows because of mother nature going crazy on us in New York with the Irene Hurricane. but guess what! here we are this year coming to the festival making up for last year and adding an unforgettable memory to each one's life that will see Oasis.
Do you think the audience will talk about your show for 5 minutes, an hour, or way into the wee hours of the night?
the Audience is already living Oasis! talking about it everyday 24/7 and will continue forever!!! Oasis is a Dance Theater piece that talks about Humanity discussing real life happenings in the middle east and the world. to me , the magic of the theater and the live performing art is the human engagement at that time and place for a unified cause and energy with presence of the performers, and on top of that Oasis actually in context approaches deep and true human emotions and reflections that inspire us as dancers working on it everyday and for sure will stay with our audience forever.
Which “S” word best describes your show: SMOOTH, SEXY, SMART, SURPRISING?
Oasis is definitely Surprising! therefor i'm not reveling anything now but would Only say it's REAL.
How important is diversity to you in the theater you see/make?
as an Artist growing up in different places traveling and moving a lot i learned a a lot and still about how humans are diverse and what a great quality we and gift that is. In art we communicate and express therefor i see the element of and theater piece or art work is the language that we speak and the more versatile and articulate we are in the knowledge of that language the more likely we will connect to more people. and personally i've always been curious about different artistic techniques to express myself from Painting, Sculpture, Installation art, Poetry and of course my life; Dance. and that was the main reason that inspired me to work with the Choreographer Nejla Yatkin that really uses and intertwines different elements in her works.
