Collaborative Theatrical Creation | 2017

“Culture plays a key role in the very close and diverse relationship between France and the UAE. This project, which is part of the Emirati-French Cultural programme in dialogue with the Louvre Abu Dhabi, was designed to bring together the best of the French theatre tradition, that dates back to the 17th century, with a new generation of talented UAE-based artists. This genuine cooperation aims at nurturing new talents who reflect the country they live in: multicultural, open-minded, and talented. Through an innovative artistic process, it has achieved the creation of a pioneering theater troupe that explores universality beyond the diversity of languages, illustrating once more the shared commitment of France and the UAE to peace and tolerance.” – Michel Miraillet, French Ambassador

Trance-Forms was an extensive theatre-training Emirati-French cultural programme for UAE-based performers. Through an open-call audition, 14 performing artists representing 11 countries were selected and trained for a period of 3 months by professionals from the French National Academy of Dramatic Arts to create I Am My Language – a devised, collaborative theatrical production.

The performance encapsulated the evolution of Abu Dhabi as a city, and the UAE as a country, through portraying the universal concepts of youth, memory and love by interweaving dances, music, poems, life stories, and recitals from Arabic, French and Indian classical literature.

This project also paved the way for the emergence of an experimental and innovative theatrical group in the UAE.