Omar Rajeh

Omar Rajeh, the critically acclaimed choreographer and dancer, is a leading figure of the contemporary dance scene in Lebanon and the Arab world. He founded Maqamat in Beirut in 2002 and implemented the company in Lyon in 2019.

Author of more than twenty choreographic creations, his works represent an extraordinary physical presence through vigorous movements with strong socio-political connections, and have been presented at international festivals and venues including the Bolshoi Theatre Festival, Romaeuropa Festival, and now at the Edinburgh International Festival.

He is the founder of Beirut International Platform of Dance – BIPOD, one of the most important dance festivals in the region. Since 2004, the festival offers a rich international program of performances, workshops, lectures, and meetings, attracting more than 5000 audience member each year. He is the co-founder of Masahat Dance Network which is a regional contemporary dance network across Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan. This ambitious regional connection was further extended into the MOULTAQA LEYMOUN platform, which Rajeh created to provide the space and opportunity for young and established Arab artists to showcase and develop their work.

Omar Rajeh also recently founded the highly anticipated new performing arts space in the heart of Beirut – Citerne Beirut – which after being forced to close its doors in 2019 became the digital cultural platform Citerne.live, which he founded during the COVID-19 pandemic.