Aagama
Aagama is the game of realities played in a dancer's personal life and her character's storyline. While the dancer awaits the arrival of a text message, her character is waiting for her lover to pass by her doorstep. A unique confluence of Kathak (north Indian classical dance) and a 11th Century Carnatic Padam (south Indian classical music), it tells the tale of contrasting settings, be it a traditional retelling or a modern outlook, the constant remains the anticipation of arrival - the Aagama.
Amorphus
Commissioned by Dubai Culture for Sikka Art Fair 2016, Amorphous is an experimental dance film and performance art installation by UAE based artists Shereen Saif and Swapna Kurup. The short film portrays the non-linear narrative of a mind unleashed as it wanders between wakefulness and a dream-like state. The bed, a metaphor of the human condition, is a place of physical and psychological experiences and confidential disclosures where lines blur and shapes shift in unexpected, amorphous ways.
Chrysalis
Chrysalis is the manifestation of hope in one of the rawest forms in nature. In here, the caterpillar doesn’t rest but awaits a new life in a new body. rough the fusion of spoken word and movement, this film captures the magical process of metamorphosis.
Different Kind of Love
Different Kind of Love (01:00) was more of a collaboration, with Miryam Ghouth directing us as dancers. I created the choreography, while the creative concept was from Miryam.
Feel
"Feel" is a dance film that delves into the evocative mood of the desert, illustrating its stark beauty and profound stillness. Dancer move through the expansive landscapes, their movements reflecting the isolation and introspection inspired by the environment. The film captures the interplay between the dancer and the desert, showcasing how the arid backdrop transforms into a vibrant stage for expression, inviting viewers to
experience the deep emotions tied to both dance and nature.
Isolation
The Bathtub, My Neighbour, and Isolated in My Room are considered one work, a series of videos made during an isolation week in a hotel room in Abu Dhabi. It was 2020, a year when we all struggled. We were working on our first major project after the start of COVID-19. Due to a positive case among us, we had to isolate
for a week in our hotel rooms. Despite being alone, we felt the need to continue dancing and creating.
The Bathtub (01:32)
All the hotel rooms were identical, and after five days of isolation, I thought, why not do something different to express our growing frustration? I came up with the creative idea
and choreography, and I also edited the video. The performers were Thalia Valtierra, Levda Marina, Estefania Ramirez, and myself, Luis Florencio.
My Neighbour (01:05)
Estefania was literally in the room next to mine. We used to communicate through the walls until we decided to dance together. The choreography was a collaboration between Estefania and me, with the creative idea coming from myself. The performers were Estefania and me, Luis Florencio.
Isolated in My Room (01:13)
One day, I was watching the sunset and felt inspired to revisit an old choreography I had learned in a
dance class. The creative idea was mine, the choreography was by Nick Liestal, and I performed and edited the video myself.
La vie en noir
A short dance film that depicts the life of depression survivors who go through their days trying desperately to escape their own worlds, where they’re found trapped in the deep darkness of mental misery, and when they have dreams as a solace, it eventually leads them back to the rabbit hole, which is their reality. Symbolism is highly used in this film and can be noticed in the colours, props, and the main atmosphere of it, as well as the metaphor of using the song “la vie en rose,” which talks about how life can “feel like pink” as a meaning of a joyful and loving life, while in the contrary here, the film conveys the complete opposite feels.
No La Vie N'Est Pas Rose
“Non, La Vie N’est Pas Rose” is a short contemporary dance film that delves into the intricate web of gossip, betrayal, as experienced by three women whose lives intertwine.
It explores the negative impact of gossip on personal relationships, highlighting the importance of trust, empathy and communication, reminding us of the importance of nurturing authentic connections and supporting one another in an often tumultuous world.
NoBody
NoBody is an experimental short film that delves into the raw, often overlooked experience of not fitting into societal norms. Through the lens of street art, the film portrays the journey of an individual who exists on the fringes—unseen and unheard, yet radiating light in the most unexpected ways.
Blending vivid urban landscapes with abstract visuals, NoBody explores how the act of creating art in public spaces can challenge conventions, reclaim identity, and give voice to those who feel out of place. In a world where belonging is defined by rigid expectations, NoBody reveals the beauty in standing apart and the power of self-expression in redefining one's place in society.
Rise!
Rise!, a dance on film, is a short created in 2020 by two UAE based artists Shereen Saif and Ancy Alexander. The film addresses the urgent need to democratize dance for all body types. Based on the belief that if you have a body, you can dance, the film talks about breaking free from deep-rooted stereotyping about dance bodies and becoming truly inclusive.
The Trip
This installation, aptly named The Trip explores mobility as a way of life and as a perspective for two artists who live, work and create “in transit”: María José R. Escolar and Fernando López Rodríguez, Spaniards residing in the UAE who have occupied other lives in places such as France, Germany, Morocco, Syria, Belgium,
China and Gabon. This collaborative work combines the visual artist and the dancer-philosopher’s artistic languages to compose a “danced exhibition” in which Escolar’s sculptures will be moved, toured and traveled by López’s dance: memories, sounds, cylindrical paintings and drawings, sand and gestures will configure the space-time of this performative art piece. The dance is set against the soundtrack of merged Emirati and Spanish traditional folk music that is the outcome of López’s research.
The Unfortunate Tale of Mankind
"The Unfortunate Tale of Mankind" a poignant contemporary dance film that highlights the struggles of eight individuals trapped in a world of manipulation and collective suffering. By dwelling into absurd choreography that actually resembles the current state that human beings live in, it tells the different stories of resilient souls who strive, sometimes alone and other times together, to break free from their shackles, igniting a collective call for compassion, empathy and the unyielding pursuit of justice.
Welcome to my 20s
“A representation of how tough it can be to navigate life in one’s 20s and how the concept of Escapism (finding relief from unpleasant realities) can help.” Oluwamayokun Olumoroti.
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