a cultural dance organisation engaging minds, linking territories of action, thought and creation
about
Maqamat has played a major role in the organization, creation and establishment of a contemporary dance scene in Lebanon and has had strong influences on the cultural reality in the country and across other Arab Countries. Since 2020, the company moved its base to Lyon, while continuing its projects in Beirut, and aiming to develop further exchanges and a wider reach of cultural projects across Europe and the Mediterranean.
background
Maqamat was first founded by Omar Rajeh in Beirut, in 2002, as a contemporary dance company. In a very short period of time, the company found itself going beyond its artistic creations towards developing major dance projects. Maqamat Beit El Raqs (Dancehouse), as it became known, played a major role in developing and establishing a contemporary dance scene in Lebanon and the region. It created important projects such as BIPOD-Beirut International Platform of Dance (2004), Takween, an intensive dance training and education program (2009), Moultaqa Leymoun, a showcase platform supporting young emerging and established artists (2009), and a co-founder of Masahat dance network (2006).
In 2017, Maqamat completed one of its most ambitious projects, building Citerne Beirut, an innovative cultural center and one of its kind in Lebanon. Citerne Beirut was forced to close after the political and economical turmoil that hit Lebanon in 2019.
Maqamat established a new base in Lyon, and in 2020 launched, with several cultural partners, the digital platform Citerne.live, another ambitious project, that was inspired by the closure of Citerne Beirut. Yet, it builds on the concepts of developing and exploring new performance spaces to voice culture and explore the world of digital dance creations.
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support maqamat
Crowdfunding campaign
We’re thrilled to announce that, following our shortlist for the Fedora Van Cleef & Arpels Prize, we are among the last three nominees and our crowdfunding campaign for DANCE PEOPLE is now live!
This new creation uniquely brings together artists and audiences to explore ideas of space, belonging, and human connection.
Join us today! Visit our campaign page on the FEDORA platform to learn more and support DANCE PEOPLE. Donations start at just 5€! Every donation, big or small, helps make this vision a reality.
Your donation will be matched!
>>> donate here
Whether you are a company or an individual, your support is essential to us. By joining us , you allow dance artists and projects to happen. Your support can make a difference in many ways:
BIPOD 1/ to support the visibility of lebanese dancers and choreographers 2/ to support the presence of international dance companies in Lebanon 3/ to support operational costs for the festival
Takween to support choreographic artists at different stages of their creative process through research and creative residencies, workshops and training, laboratories and exchanges.
citerne.live 1/to support an inititiative that allows the presence of dance online 2/ to contribute in the visibility of artists worldwide 3/ to allow aufiences around teh world to haev access to dance 4/ to contribute to the circulation and empowering of dance artsits and a danec community online.
the dance company 1/to support the general development of the company 2/ to contribute in the making of Maqamat’s dance performances 3/ to contribute to the visibility and touring of the company in Lebanon and internationally.
in kind contributions all inkind contributions are welcome 1/ volunteering ushers 2/lunch vouchers 3/ offered services ( printing/ equipments/ translations/ designs/ production/ press / photography/ filming…)