Dance People

WORLD PREMIERE at the Edinburgh International Festival, August 7–10, 2025

Dance People received the award of Fondation E.C.Art POMARET, and was Nominated for the FEDORA VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize 2025

Dance People is a title that speaks for itself. It places the values of community at the heart of creativity, claiming its presence through shared space with citizens and allowing new formats of being together to emerge.

In a world driven by intelligent algorithms and AI, some of today’s most urgent questions are about gatherings, encounters, and how we live with one another.

What is the space of democracy? Of culture? Of identity? How do we open space, protect it, inhabit it together?

With a diverse and rich artistic group, Omar Rajeh and Mia Habis invite the audience into a collective creative moment. The work becomes joyful and festive, yet remains sharply critical of power and supremacy.

Dance People is not a performance to observe from afar. It’s a gesture to share. A space to inhabit.

Co-produced by

Edinburgh International Festival, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura and Festival Aperto / Fondazione I Teatri – Reggio Emilia, International Dance festival München, Kunstfest Weimar & Euro-Scene Leipzig

Creative residency at CND Lyon, CND Pantin, Festival de Liège / Manège Fonck, Fabbrica Europa, Mufatthalle - The Venue for International art and culture in Munich, Les Subs-Lyon, Montpellier Danse.

Supported by Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée (CNC) & DRAC Auvergne Rhône-Alpes

Duration 100’

Artistic Concept, Direction & Choreography Omar Rajeh Co-Artistic Direction Mia Habis Performed by Elise Bruyère , David Cahier, Francesco Ferrari, Julie Louise Bjelke, Clara Cafiero, Jihun Choi, Cristian Cucco, Mia Habis, Nunzio Perricone & Omar Rajeh Music Composition & Live Interpretation Mathias Delplanque and Ziad El Ahmadie (based on the Album of L’Ombre de la Bête) Voice Abdul Karim Chaar Researcher Tom Helmer Scenographic Concept & Architecture L.E.F.T. Architects (Makram Kadi & Ziad Jamaleddine) Visual Artist Estelle Piatoni Interactive Experience Tamanoir Immersive Studio ( Creative Director - Sam Lecoeur / Producer - Rémi Large) Lighting Design Guy Hoare
Relighting Tom Pritchard Video Graphics & Animation Jimmy Elias Technical Assistant Julien Laurent Dramaturgical advise Peggy Olislaegers Production & Coordination Valentin Crepain Administration Sandrine Orlando Guest Citizens & Artists to be announced for each performance

It’s a rare thing that audience participation enhances the experience of a show, even rarer that it forms a foundational part of a show’s meaning

- Mary MarquiS
“Some of the most joyful dancing you’ll see this Edinburgh festival.”

— The Guardian
“Dance People is all about breaking down barriers.”

— The Herald
“We are all audience and performer alike.”

— Fest Magazine
“By the gorgeous, furious, emotional end, it feels as if we ourselves are somehow starting over, somewhere new.”

— The Wee Review
Space, is the central artistic concept of this creation. The distribution of space defines the nature of relationships and it equally defines its purpose. The performance reflects on its own gathering in order to comment on what it conveys or proposes as a value.

Photos by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan | Jessica Anne Photography _ Edinbrugh International Festival

Dance People is a non-conventional performance gathering, with an innovative and deeply engaging artistic approach. It touches on urgent artistic and cultural matters, while exploring the immediate questions of a world in transition.

dates

2026

13 June | Dance People, Lugano Dance Project, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Switzerland

19 June | Dance People, Dance People Festival, Lyon, France

23 July | Dance People, Venice Biennale, Italy

24 July | Dance People, Venice Biennale, Italy

12 September | Dance People, Fabbrica Europa, Italy

19 September | Dance People, Festival Aperto, Reggio Emilia, Italy

2025

7, 8, 9 &10 August |Edinburgh International Festival, UK

20 August | KunstFest Weimar, Germany

13 June | Dance People — Lugano Dance Project, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Switzerland

19 June | Dance People — Dance People Festival, Lyon, France

23 July | Dance People — Venice Biennale, Italy

24 July | Dance People — Venice Biennale, Italy

12 September | Dance People — Fabbrica Europa, Italy

19 September | Dance People — Festival Aperto, Reggio Emilia, Italy

Dance People

It’s a rare thing that audience participation enhances the experience of a show, even rarer that it forms a foundational part of a show’s meaning

“Some of the most joyful dancing you’ll see this Edinburgh festival.”

“Dance People is all about breaking down barriers.”

“We are all audience and performer alike.”

“By the gorgeous, furious, emotional end, it feels as if we ourselves are somehow starting over, somewhere new.”

Space, is the central artistic concept of this creation. The distribution of space defines the nature of relationships and it equally defines its purpose. The performance reflects on its own gathering in order to comment on what it conveys or proposes as a value.

Dance People is a non-conventional performance gathering, with an innovative and deeply engaging artistic approach. It touches on urgent artistic and cultural matters, while exploring the immediate questions of a world in transition.

dates

Dance is not for us