The International Oud Festival is hosting a dance piece for the first time in its history. Orly Portal’s new work is based on Umm Kulthum’s voice in the song "Al-Atlal" (The Ruins), in a contemporary Hebrew translation: "Give me my freedom, release my hands/ I gave (everything), I left nothing/ Woe is me from your chains that drew blood from my wrists/ Why should I leave it? And what is left for me in you?"

Two languages, Hebrew and Arabic, are interwoven. The song about the death of love between a man and a woman becomes a story about a world that has been destroyed, about the relationship between a person and a place, the land, the people. The artwork, which carries a political message of reconciliation between peoples, rises from the ruins. Seeds of beauty sprout from the shards of war, lamenting the loss of life and faith. The music, language, and voice blend into the dance to the point of tarab – ecstatic rapture.

Choreography Orly Portal | Dancers Orly Portal, Artour Astman, Maya Tamir, Lal’el Pilorra, Noa Gronich, Daniel Costa | Music “Al Atlal,” performed by Umm Kulthum, composed by Riad Al-Sunbati, lyrics by Ibrahim Naji, translated into Hebrew by Latif Bertov | Original music Ori Alboher | Singing and vocals Orly Portal, Artour Astman, Maya Tamir, Lal’el Pilorra, Noa Gronich, Daniel Costa | Lighting design Nadav Barnea | Costume design Rosello Shamria | Video art Itzik Portal | Video editing Omer Radak | Text and animation design Anat Gutberg | Graphics and poster design Itamar Heifetz | Production Mor Messeri, Shalagi Sarit Kempeler