OUR PROJECTS

BIPOD - Beirut International Platform of Dance Celebrates 20 Years of contemporary dance and artistic excellence. From April 16th to April 21st, 2024, the city of Beirut will come alive with the rhythm, energy, and creativity. For two decades, BIPOD has been at the forefront of fostering cultural exchange and artistic innovation in Lebanon and beyond. This year, under the theme of “To do. To share" BIPOD invites audiences to join in commemorating this significant moment in its history.

“We believe that courage and generosity are two key words for programmers nowadays. We should not be worried about the future, because the future is already here. What we have to worry about is in what condition we will leave the past” _ Omar Rajeh | BIPOD Founder
From touring internationally to creating BIPOD, the first international dance festival in Lebanon, a unique cultural venue/space in the heart of Beirut, Maqamat is always pushing boundaries and reshaping the perception of the performing arts scene in Lebanon.

Over the years, and since its creation in 2002, Maqamat has become a trust-worthy reference for local and international artists and audiences. Promoting Beirut as a centre of contemporary dance in the Arab world, Maqamat has created an inclusive experience which brings together a plethora of voices from all over the globe and from all walks of life. The many projects organized by Maqamat, the ability to invite well-known international companies performing for the first time in the region while producing, presenting and encouraging works by local artists, have been continuously uniting cities while always creating a long awaited and positive atmosphere of creativity, innovation and progress.

With a fresh vision and unwavering commitment to redefining the dance experience, BIPOD promises an immersive and engaging program that transcends boundaries. From captivating performances by local talents to groundbreaking showcases from regional and international artists, this year's edition guarantees an unforgettable journey through the diverse landscapes of contemporary dance.

The success of BIPOD would not be possible without the unwavering support of its festival partners. Their dedication and collaboration have been instrumental in shaping BIPOD into the globally recognized platform it is today. This years supporters are : The Spanish Embassy in Lebanon, The Swiss Embassy in Beirut, The British Council in Lebanon, Relais Culture Europe, Saadallah & Loubna Khalil Foundation, ABROYAN FACTORY / UNION MARKS, STATION BEIRUT, SURSOCK MUSEUM, Institut Français du Liban, Goethe-Institute in Lebanon, Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Beirut, AC/E Action Cultural Espanola, NPN- National Performance Netz, MIRROS Communications, L'Orient-Le Jour, VDTL, Lebtivity, Light FM, Jabalna, Cinedans, Beirut Physical Lab, Mazen Kiwan Dance Academy, Rajana Veda Dance Academy, Swandance Zahle, Amadeus- Dance & Music School, Clos St Thomas, Dots in addition to donors & supporters.

40 artists will come together to propose a new vision focusing on setting a different experience of dance and community, presenting a new format with an engaging and immersive program featuring local, regional, and international performances. These dance experiences will unfold in 5 new settings: unconventional spaces that will serve as non-dedicated performance spaces for cultural activation - all located in the heart of Beirut: Abroyan Factory/ Union Marks, Station Beirut, Institut français du Liban, and Sursock Museum. We will also be live-broadcasting some events on Citerne.live for our international audience

The program of BIPOD 2024 includes more than 30 events in 5 days:

About BIPOD:
BIPOD is the first contemporary dance platform to be founded by Omar Rajeh | Maqamat in Beirut, Lebanon in 2004. The festival has created a significant presence for dance in Lebanon and became one the most important dance festivals in the region. It offers a rich international program of performances, debates, video dance, talks, lectures and workshops. BIPOD has contributed to the development and progress of the contemporary dance scene in Lebanon and allowed more visibility, collaboration, networking and exchange for artists on a local and international level.
BIPOD has widely contributed to the development and progress of the Lebanese contemporary dance scene. It allowed more visibility, collaboration, networking and exchange for artists on a local and international level. The festival proved its relevance as a major artistic and cultural event in Beirut. Its solid and excellent reputation raised international curiosity about the dance scene in the region and promoted Beirut to be the center of contemporary Dance in the Arab World. The festival has taken a special significance in relation to the wide public interest, with the artistic quality of its program, the ability to invite well known international companies performing for the first time in the region, the outreach to remote cities, towns, and other disadvantaged communities, the strong motivation for young artists, and the positive atmosphere it creates every year in the capital.