For over 30 years, Al-Sarab Alternative Dance School (commonly known as Al-Sarab Dance) has been a place committed to the embodied pedagogy of the dancers of Lebanon. Historically, the school began with a focus in Modern Dance but over the last 15 years there has been a significant amount of time and space dedicated to the teaching of other fields of movement.
Al-Sarab provides a learning and collaborative environment in which diversity is embraced and respected. The young people who graduate from any of Al-Sarab’s diploma programs become leaders in their careers and communities. Al-Sarab encourages both peer and faculty mentorship when it comes to creative endeavors. And finally, Al-Sarab encourages their dancers to partake in auditions across the country (and abroad) seeking opportunities which allow for interaction with highly accomplished and professional artists thus developing an astute understanding of dance as an art in all its measures.
LOGISTICS
- Al-Sarab Alternative Dance School is a curriculum-based school registered in the Ministry of Education (Lebanon) under license number: 213/2009.
- The School and Dance Company were both founded in January 1991 by Dr. Nadra Majeed Assaf.
- The school is mainly based in Jbeil with branches in Bishmizzine, Koura, and La Collina, Rabieh
OUR MISSION
Al-Sarab Alternative Dance School is committed to academic excellence in dance and all dancer-related issues in Lebanon and the Middle East. Al-Sarab Alternative Dance School stands strong in its ability to acknowledge the importance of the education of the whole person. Because of the aforementioned, Our Mission is to ‘Open opportunities in the society for any and every body to dance.’
OUR VALUES
Al-Sarab Alternative Dance School is truly what the name says, it is an Alternative. We, the directors and teachers at Al-Sarab share the notion that physical movement is essential to the health of the mind, spirit and body. We also believe dance to be a communicative skill; in essence a universal language.
At Al-Sarab the belief is: Dance is Dance. We embrace and maintain the vision of a ‘Global Dancing Body’; one who can function as a mover in any context. The technique classes at Al-Sarab are structured with this premise in mind.
Al-Sarab Dancers are encouraged to participate in local and international workshops and competitions even though the spirit of the school does not recognize competition. Our classrooms are based on a cooperative working atmosphere which includes both the student and the instructor. Students are strongly encouraged to grow individually as well as in groups. Students at different levels are expected to work on creativity through expressing themselves with their own choreography and improvisation skills.
All the instructors at Al-Sarab work closely together to insure uniformity in discipline and pedagogy even though each instructor has his/her unique approach to implementation of the curriculum.
OUR VISION
- Our vision is to reposition dance in a more prominent sphere, particularly in the field of Education.
The Vision of Al-Sarab Alternative Dance School is motivated by its mission and values and is carried out through:
- Providing quality dance for the public.
- Preparing dancers for studies in dance in higher education.
- Encouraging young dancers to pursue dance as a career or serious hobby.
- Encouraging members to widen their artistic development by choreographing or creating original works.
- Encouraging friendship and unity in all work, especially artistic work.
- Encouraging community caring by participating in community events.
- Developing social and ethical structures that benefit the nation as well as the group.
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