‘nasa4nasa. Sham3dan’

Making their Bozar debut, Egyptian duo nasa4nasa—Noura Seif Hassanein and Salma Abdel Salam—present a bold performance rooted in feminism and beauty as a political force, aligning with the season’s focus on exploring these themes. Inspired by the traditional Egyptian shamadan dance, symbolizing spiritual illumination, the piece reimagines its legacy through three layered narratives.

Nine dancers, balancing candlesticks on their heads, move in solemn unison, blending 1920s folk traditions with contemporary expression. Set to a haunting soundscape by Ismail Hosny, the choreography sheds ceremonial formality to explore the deconstruction of stories, bodies, and motion. The result is a powerful meditation on collective presence, burden, and balance—where synchronized movement becomes a quiet act of resistance.

Credits
Creation, direction and choreography: nasa4nasa (Salma AbdelSalam & Noura Seif Hassanein) 
Created in collaboration with dancers: Dalia El Abd, Hend El Balouty, Samar Ezzat, Mona Gamil, Moemen Nabil, Nagham Salah, Salma Salem, Shaymaa Shoukry, HaninTarek
Music: Ismail Hosny
Lighting: Saber El Sayed
Styling: Ahmed Sorour
Sound Engineer: Nazli Reda
Texts: Salma AbdelSalam

Project Management: Sherif Amin and Amina Allam
Stage Management and FOH: Recrew
Producers: AFAC, Orient Productions, BUDA
Special thanks to: Moussem, Something Great, Goethe Institute Cairo

Presented at Bozar in collaboration with BUDA