Between The Seas [2], the only festival in New York celebrating Mediterranean performance, returns to the Wild Project [3] for its fifth year. The Festival was founded in 2010 by theater artist and scholar Aktina Stathaki [4] as the first and only festival in North America focusing on contemporary Mediterranean performing artists.

The annual festival that runs for one week each summer in New York City, has quickly grow into a unique platform of high quality work, presenting some of the most exciting and thought provoking artists working in the Mediterranean region.

With an eclectic programming of performances that so far have included Egypt, Israel, Greece, Lebanon, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Morocco and the US, the festival's past editions have offered NYC audiences over 30 new works including NYC, USA and world premieres by established and young artists: Balletto Teatro di Sardegna, Lina Abiad, Mancopy Dansekompagni, Elias Aguirre, Rachel Erdos, Ido Tadmor, Korhan Basaran, Malika Zarra, are some of the artists that have honored Between the Seas with their participation.

Program highlights include: the English language premiere of The Dictator by Lebanese playwright Issam Mahfouz, an absurdist exploration on the nature of tyranny; Catalan artist Borja Gonzales on a performance piece based on puppetry and sand drawing; Italian dance company Esperimenti [5] in a sparkling performance inspired by Italian songs of the 60s and 90s; and the fiery flamenco dancer Rebecca Tomas.

Full festival program details:

DANCE & PERFORMANCE ART PROGRAM:

Wednesday, September 9 - Thursday, September 10th at 7pm

DREAMS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, directed by Borja González / Julio Hontana

Featuring illustrator Borja González Martínez, accompanied with live music by Roc Sala Coll

Produced by Cie. Ytuquepintas

Country of origin: Catalonia

With only sand and his hands, renowned illustrator Borja González tells stories through sand art created on a light table, which are then projected on a big screen. The audience travels through different atmospheres, sensations and parts of the world as the images are revealed. Accompanied by large-scale puppets, speed painting and the live music of pianist Roc Sala.

Friday, September 11 at 9pm; Sunday, September 13 at 6pm

Rebeca Tomas / A Palo Seco Flamenco

Produced by A Palo Seco

Country of Origin: USA

One of Between the Seas' most popular artists, flamenco dancer Rebeca Tomas, returns to the festival for two shows with her acclaimed company A Palo Seco.

Saturday Sept 12 at 6.30pm; Sunday Sept 13 at 8pm (on a double will with Influx)

PER ...INCISO, directed by Patrizia Salvatori, choreographed by Federica Galimberti

With Federica Galimberti, Francesco Di Luzio, Mattia De Virgiliis, Andrea Ferrarini, Silvia Pinna, Eleonora Lippi, Filippo Braco

Produced by Esperimenti Dance Company

Country of Origin: Italy
 

Italian songs of the 60s and 90s sparkle in this entertaining work by one of Italy's most exciting young companies. From Modugno to Sinatra, from De Andrè to Gaber, from Capossela to Jovanotti, seven dancers bring together different generations sharing similar experiences and emotions with irony and humor. The company uses its signature style of combining a variety of genres to reconcile young and old, tradition and innovation.
Here's a video of the piece <<< [6]

Saturday Sept 12 at 6.30pm; Sunday Sept 13 at 8pm (on a double bull with Per...Inciso)

INFLUX, choreographed by Nadra Assaf and Rain Ross; music composed by Martin Loyato; lighting designed by Caitlin Quinn Pittenger

Produced by Rain Ross

Country of Origin: USA/Lebanon

Transition between cultures. Dance crossing borders. INFLUX is the cross-cultural dance collaboration between Nadra Assaf (Lebanon) and Rain Ross (USA), with music composed by Martin Loyato (Argentina). Dancers from the USA and Lebanon perform with live musicians from Lebanon, showcasing narratives of community and exchange, of fluidity and discovery.
 

THEATER PROGRAM

Thursday September 10 at 9pm; Saturday, September 12 at 2pm

THE DICTATOR written by Issam Mahfouz in a new English translation by Robert Myers and Nada Saab, directed by Sahar Assaf

With Raffi Feghali and Sany Abdul Baki

Produced by Robert Myers

Country of Origin: Lebanon

Called "a masterpiece of claustrophobia, an exploration of despotism, delusion and power games” (Daily Star, Lebanon), THE DICTATOR, written in 1969 by Issam Mahfouz, tells the story of a tyrant, a mentally disturbed individual under the illusion that he is humanity's long-awaited savior. With the present turmoil in the Middle East in mind, the revival of this Lebanese absurdist classic feature a minimalist staging and a world premiere English translation by Robert Myers and Nada Saab.

Friday September 11 at 7pm; Saturday, September 12 at 9pm

HEARTS BEATING LIKE DRUMS, written by Angels Aymar and directed by Àngels Aymar

With Elisabeth Hess, Okwui Okpokwasili, Hillary Spector

Produced by Collectif Lyon.05

Country of Origin: France/Catalonia

HEARTS BEATING LIKE DRUMS is a play built around women and war. Three actresses embody different characters that share stories about the consequences of the disaster and the dysfunction that comes from living through war. US Premiere.