Can belly dancing change our perception of a woman’s body?

Egyptian artist Shaima Shukri’s performance “Womb” uses dance performance and music to challenge society’s established ideas about the female body. Shaima also reflects on how the founding myths of early civilizations were linked to women’s wombs and pelvises.

“Tunnel 4: Extension” is the title of a dance performance by Haneen Tariq and Amina Abu Al-Ghar from the “Tunnel” contemporary dance group. They say the show tries to create a safe space for people to explore the possibilities of harmony. Despite the contradictions that create a gap between them.

“Shit” is the title of a dance theater performance inspired by Palestinian artist Sama Wakim’s life in the Occupied Territories.

In this show, Sama tries to find some balance amidst the absurd and unstable reality imposed by the occupation.

The performances were presented as part of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival, DECAF. We asked the festival’s founder and director, Ahmed Al-Attar: “Is there anything that sets this festival apart from the dozens of festivals held annually in Cairo?”

The “Art for Life” project explores how creativity in all its forms interacts with our reality.

The program meets creative people from all fields who present works that reflect aspects of our lives and touch on personal or collective experiences.

“Art for Life” presents a picture of art and creativity from the Maghreb to the Arabian Gulf and anywhere in the world, and it comes to you from the heart of the British capital, London.

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Search the hashtag #artforlife to find all the content we’re offering in this new program.

New episodes of Art for Life air every Sunday at 7:05pm GMT and are repeated during the week.