- What We've Achieved So Far -
As a live art form, dance is particularly affected by the coronavirus, along with concerts and theatre performances. To ensure continuity of safe, adequate and productive creative environment for creative individuals of performing arts, we adapted our work to operate safely, and efficiently.
Co-organized a Virtual Dance Festival,
presented 12 performances of 17 artists coming from 11 different countries,
reached 3,000 total views in a day.
Co-created a Online-co-production,
performance integrated dance with
sound design, textile art, installation art, and projection art,
reached more than 6,000 views.
Combined Dance with Sign Language,
co-created a performance,
premiered on 4 December 2020, the 4-Month-Anniversary of Beirut Explosion,
reached more than 87,000 audiences and viewers.
Launched a talent incubation program “Choreography Creation Camp” (CCC),
collaborated with 100 artists in creating 8 new performances,
reached more than 110,000 audiences and viewers.
Re-inhabited a NEW space!
Re-inhabited a NEW space!
Virtual Festival: On 15 May 2020, Studio 8 co-organized a one-day-virtual-dance-festival was a festival of short dance works with partner organizations, Alma Alter of Bulgaria, and Cultural routes of Jordan.
Participating artists:
Mei Yamanaka, Japan,
Ariane Bernier, Canada,
Christina Prompona, Greece,
Harriet Roberts, United Kingdom,
Mihail Bonev, Bulgaria,
Teresa Smith, New York,
Kiori Kawai, Abu Dhabi,
Aaron Sherwood, Abu Dhabi,
Theatre-studio Vladimir Tzekov, Spain,
Claire Pritchard, Scotland
Angelica Summer, Bulgarian based in Germany,
Inari Soinila, Finland,
Alvaro Murillo Garcia, Spain,
Raquel Cruz and Emilio Arquillo, Spain,
Gina DiDonato, USA,
Elinor Tollerz Bratteby, Sweden
Original Productions:
Here is a performance born in the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
In the worldwide curfews, quarantines, two artists who live three thousands miles away from each other have responded to this challenge with creativity that keeps people connected during restrictions that keeps us apart.
"The Unwritten New Normal" is a collective production between Jordanian performer and choreographer Anas Nahleh of Studio 8 and German visual artist and sociological researcher Stephanie Müller. After 30-day digital exchange, creating side by side through email, whatsapp, facebook group, blogging together, a very special performance contains music & sound art, dance, textile art, installation art, and projection art, was born.
Concept: Anas Nahleh, Stephanie Müller
Choreography: Anas Nahleh
Performer: Anas Nahleh, Stephanie Müller
Set Design: Anas Nahleh, Abd Al Hadi Abunahleh, Stephanie Müller
Costume Design: Stephanie Müller
Sound Design: Stephanie Müller
Photography, Video-graphy: Miramar Moh’d,
Abd Al Hadi Abunahleh, Mohammad Barroq, Klaus Erika Dietl, Stephanie Müller
Video-editing: Klaus Erika Dietl, Ren
Archive: Ren
“The Unwritten New Normal ” has been realized as part of the Online Co-Production Challenge organized and supported by the Goethe-Institut Amman. This project is also a co-production of Studio 8, which is supported by Drosos Foundation.
"The performance is very powerful! The collaboration was so fruitful!"
—– audience
To watch the performance: https://www.studio8jo.com/the-unwritten-new-normal
After the 2020 Beirut explosion happened on the 4th of August, artists in Jordan are saddened by these events.
We want to send our condolences for the loss of lives and our shared concern for the scale of material destruction.
With the guidance of creative members of Jordanian deaf community and their supportive circle, after two-month intensive rehearsals, a dance performance is created as our statement to express that we will remain by the side of Lebanese people to continue our collective work during these challenging times.
This performance is called "Ya Beirut" set to a song which expresses the solidarity of Jordanian people with the Lebanese people for the tragedy that has struck the city of Beirut.
Concept: Sanad Abu Assaf, Anas Nahleh, Aya Nabulsi
Concept: Sanad Abu Assaf, Anas Nahleh, Aya Nabulsi
Producer: Studio 8 & Al Muthana
Choreographer: Anas Nahleh
Sign language interpretation: Al Muthana
Dance: Obada Asse, Hasan Alresheq
Movement consultant: Abd Al Hadi Abunahleh
Film maker: Arthur Tainturier
Photography: Xiaoman Ren, Reema Shatat, Arthur Tainturier
"Thank you so much for this choreographic statement in support of Beirut! It is very touching. I am intrigued by sign language and to see it part of a dance movement is very powerful."
—– audience based in Beirut
To watch the performance: https://www.studio8jo.com/ya-beirut
“Choreography Creation Camp” (CCC):
From August 2020 – December 2020, Studio 8 launched a pilot version of a talent incubation program titled “Choreography Creation Camp” (CCC).
Through this program, more than 100 artists were supported in creating 8 new performances, or in-progress-performances, to ensure continuity of safe, adequate and productive creative environment for creative individuals of performing arts.
“Choreography Creation Camp” (CCC) is organized by Studio 8, with the support of the Drosos Foundation, EUNIC Jordan and European Union in Jordan.
The creation camp takes place both on-line and in physical space of small groups in the dance lab of Studio 8. It includes 17 lectures, discussions, case studies, physical workshops, and a-3-month on experience of production & mentoring.
This program offers crucial professional development support to produce, giving professional development opportunities to dance artists and choreographers. Furthermore, the program provides career-related guidance in the form of virtual tutoring and consultations, helps emerging dancers explore career options.
To watch the performance: https://www.studio8jo.com/ccc
Our Space:
From the beginning of 2020 till now, Studio 8 has been rehabilitating an office space on Thaqafa Street, Shmeisani, Amman into a dynamic performing arts lab which provides a flexible practice space with dance floor, and an office/exhibition space with a mini library. The rehabilitation reached its final stage of re-modeling, furnishing, and branding.`
Finally, Studio 8 continues its partnership with Drosos Foundation for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, focusing on building the capability of the organization’s team, using a flexible and long-term approach.
Studio 8 also continues to be a Prince Claus Fund Network Partner in 2020. Studio 8 will be contributing to a global network of strong and relevant cultural/arts organizations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.
