Amal AL NABWANI
Dancer

Amal received a creative grant in partnership with the Atelier des Artistes en Exil.

What is your artistic background ?
I have been practicing classical dance since I was very young. At 18, I chose to make it my profession, I studied dance at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus. I had the chance to travel with several companies, notably in Conakry, Guinea, which allowed me to discover new ways of rethinking traditional dance, notably the links that can be made between the art and politics. I then became a dance teacher and opened my own school in Guinea, which allowed me to obtain the equivalent of a dance teacher's diploma in France. Being passionate about the art of bodies in motion, I also practice yoga and apnea dance. For me, dance is a way to express my freedom, I am free to move, and through this, I pass on messages that are important to me. I am currently studying for a master's degree in dance at the Université Côte d'Azur in Nice.

How do you view your profession today ?
My view of dance changed when I arrived in France. The workshop for artists in exile, which brings together artists of all origins and disciplines, allowed me to observe creations that were completely different from my own and thus to question myself about dance as a political art and as a determining element of a culture's heritage. My master's degree in Nice allowed me to practice a lot of improvisation with internationally renowned dancers. I draw a lot of inspiration from theoretical elements to compose a choreography, I add elements of yoga and apnea, I mix these three disciplines, and I like to create links between them.

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
I would like to develop my freediving projects, continue to travel to share my creations and continue to learn about the world around us. I would also like to use the three disciplines that I master as a therapeutic tool, especially for young people who are victims of trauma following difficult situations. Finally, in 10 years, I would like to open my own dance school here in France, which would be a realization of many of the projects I have been able to follow so far.

This interview was conducted in 2022
Photography credit : Julie Glassberg