The “Cairo Calling” program will kick off on Thursday, November 7, as part of the 12th edition of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF). The festival, which began on October 17 and runs through November 10, features eight standout performances by Egyptian and Arab artists. The lineup includes: “Nazar” by Lara Kobeissi (Lebanon/UK), “What if Those Tears Were Not Only Mine?” by Racha Baroud (Lebanon), “Fragments” by Oumaima Bahri (Tunisia), “Retro-Rave” by Ahmed Gharib (Egypt), “I Woke Up a Sweaty Human” by Dalia Khalife (Lebanon), “Light” by Rita Akroush (Jordan), “Dressing Room” by Bissane Al-Charif and Hala Omran (Palestine/Syria/France), and “I Fell in Love” by Osama Helmy – OzOz (Egypt).

The opening day of the “Cairo Calling” program will feature “Nazar” by Lebanese-British artist Lara Kabbani. The performance will run from November 7 to 10 at 7:00 PM at Kodak Cornershop.

Supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, the Arts Council of England and B3 Media, Nazar is a multi-sensory 1:1 live performance incorporating virtual reality. This part-memoir part-immersive archive invites audiences inside a digital reconstruction of the creator’s childhood home.Supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, the Arts Council of England and B3 Media.

Meanwhile at the Falaki Theater, Lebanese director Racha Baroud will present “What if Those Tears Were Not Only Mine?” at 8:00 PM. This performance unveils the unspoken. Through voices, images and with the body in resonance.

At Rawabet Art Space, the audience will experience three dance performances in a single evening, beginning at 9:30 PM. The first performance, “Fragments”, directed by Tunisian artist Oumaima Bahri, will make its world premiere, supported by Tunisian Ministry of Culture. Where the fragments of the body are revealed, gradually recounting a personal story, and are reassembled to be offered to the self, the other, and to being.

The second performance, “Retro-Rave”, is choreographed and performed by Egyptian artist Ahmed Gharib. Supported by the Contemporary Dance Night 2023 and Yalla Dance Studio, Retro-Rave explores human emotions, actions that range from suffering and sadness to joy, inaction and sometimes hysteria.The performance is an audio-visual collage that takes the audience through a journey of different sounds influenced by different periods and the spirit of the past.

The third performance,I Woke Up a Sweaty Human, is directed and performed by Lebanese artist Dalia Khalife. Supported by Mophradat’s Grant for Artists’ Practice and NIKA Project Space, I Woke Up a Sweaty Human is an audio-visual performance where Dalia Khalifa moves against a backdrop with a life-size sweaty avatar of herself. It raises questions about the boundaries between human bodies and digital representations, particularly focusing on themes of sweat and fluidity.

Cairo Calling: Arab Emerging Performing Artists based in Egypt, the Arab World, & the UK is an initiative by the Arab Arts Focus (AAF) aimed at supporting Arab artists and promoting contemporary arts. AAF provides platforms for showcasing Arab performances, producing works for established artists, and expanding their reach globally. Through its efforts, AAF seeks to secure financial stability for artists, broaden their audiences, and foster cultural exchange between the Arab world and other regions. It is supported by the British Council.