When I saw the Sea

Together with three real-life female heroes, Ali Chahrour lifts his voice against the structures of injustice in this musical and dance piece about love, motherhood, war, exile, and home. The Kafala system – which is similar to serfdom – and racism in Lebanon are the reason why migrant workers continue to die from suicide and domestic abuse. In times of crises, this injustice is not only heightened, it also becomes more visible: they are abandoned on the streets – homeless, unpaid, and undocumented. Several survivors have stayed and resisted despite their precarious legal status. When I saw the Sea shows the abuses of this repressive labour system and honours the courage of those who fight for freedom and justice. On the stage, the three activists Zena Moussa, Tenei Ahmad and Rania Jamal not only tell their own stories, but also those of many others who are stuck between a burning country and the Mediterranean.

Ali Chahrour is a dancer and choreographer. Born and raised in Beirut, the city forms the center and starting point of his work. Far removed from western models, Ali Chahrour has created an artistic language inspired by Arab myths and the political, social and religious contexts of Lebanon. Based on personal experiences and in collaboration with the performers, he reveals and reflects upon power structures and the realities of life. Ali Chahrour combines dance elements with Arabic chanting and explores the relationship between body and movement, tradition and modernity.