Below the Skin, founded in 2019 by Aly Khamees and Jelena Mair, is a dance company dedicated to transcultural exploration. Their productions shed light on the challenges of our time and celebrate the commonalities of humanity. Beyond entertainment, they aim to inspire dialogue, reflect on social issues and promote a deeper understanding of the environment. They transcend cultural and artistic boundaries, encourage co-creation and create performances that connect art and society. As accomplices of Tanzhaus Zürich, the company refines their techniques in open workshops and makes them accessible to a wide audience.
Show
Below the Skin / Aly Khamees
Empty City – A Dance Odyssey
Empty City is inspired by the mysterious City of the Dead, an ancient necropolis in the centre of modern Cairo. There, graves and mausoleums that once served as final resting places have been transformed into houses that the living and the dead now inhabit together in a bizarre way. In Aly Khamees' piece, seven dancers bring their own stories to create a performance that celebrates resilience, cohesion and the transformative power of community. A universal story about the human spirit that survives and thrives even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Artistic Direction, choreography Aly Khamees
Creative direction, production management Jelena Mair
Co-creation, performance Alina Aegerter, Amélia Graber, Chien Ching Ying, Issue Park, Nadika Mohn, Vanessa Morandelle, Reiner Heidelberg
Coach, outside eye Romain Guion
Dramaturgical advisor Tanzhaus Zürich Simon Froehling
Critical Friend Tanzhaus Zürich Denise Ledermann
Music Marcel Gschwend
Light design, stage Iris Rohr
Photos Maria Cheilpoulou
Production Below the Skin
Coproduction Tanzhaus Zürich
Partner Orient Production (tour management)
Supported by Stadt Zürich Kultur, Fachstelle Kultur Kanton Zürich, Binding First Dance, Anne-Marie Schindler Stiftung, Elisabeth Weber Stiftung, Migros Kulturprozent, Schweizerische Interspretenstiftung SIS