In Sham3dan, the Egyptian duo nasa4nasa – Noura Seif Hassanein and Salma Abdel Salam – presents a powerful performance rooted in feminism and beauty as a political force.
Inspired by the traditional Egyptian Shamadan dance, which symbolizes spiritual illumination, the piece reimagines its legacy through three layered narrative threads.
Nine dancers, balancing candelabras on their heads, move in solemn, collective harmony – blending folk traditions of the 1920s with contemporary expression.
Accompanied by an evocative soundscape by composer Ismail Hosny, the choreography gradually sheds its ceremonial rigidity and explores the deconstruction of stories, bodies, and movement.
The result is a compelling meditation on collective presence, burden, and balance – where synchronized movement becomes a quiet act of resistance.
CREDITS
Creation
nasa4nasa (Salma AbdelSalam & Noura Seif Hassanein)
In collaboration with
Dalia El Abd
Hend El Balouty
Samar Ezzat
Mona Gamil
Moemen Nabil
Nagham Salah
Salma Salem
Shaymaa Shoukry
Hanin Tarek
Music
Ismail Hosny
Production
nasa4nasa
Distribution
Something Great
Co-production
Orient Productions
BUDA Arts Centre
With the support of
Something Great / SG Arts Centre
Goethe-Institut Cairo
Moussem
Funded by
AFAC – Arab Fund for Arts and Culture