Author: Iheb Ghrairi

Born and raised in Bizerte, currently based in Tunis. Tunisia, Sami Hammami known as Kayd is a Tunisian dancer and choreographer. Getting knowledge and practice of different dance styles such as hip hop, jazz, break dance, popping, contemporary and acrobatics, Sami Hammami is also a dancer trainer and teacher in different schools and clubs. It all started in 2011 in Bizerte learning and practicing various dance styles. Through his debut during the Tunisian revolution, he has been part of different dance choreographies and creations in his region, Bizerte, that used art in particular dance as a way to manifest and resist. During his beginning either solo or with his group “why not crew” in which he was the leader, Kayd won various dance battles and competitions including “ The dance and rhythm competition”, and “ Let’s dance ” battle, furthermore his participation in different competitions and championship where he held one of the 3 titles. To enhance his capacities and dance skills, he was involved and participated in different regional and national workshops and masterclasses. Believing in the importance of research and hard work, Sami Hammeni continually participated in different dance competitions in Tunisia, he enhanced his soft and hard knowledge,

Within three disciplines, music, theater, and dance, Dali presents and investigates the queer community challenges in society and their situation in the art scene in Tunisia. He / They had 2 performances with L’Art Rue as part of Dream City participants in the frame project that has been held at the festival for 2 years' editions. Through his performance with a group, they depicted the situation of marginalized people including women, queer community, and sex workers under the patriarchal society. Whether performing as a dancer, musician, or actor, Dali uses creative artistic mediums to express their opinions and reflect on what they sees and researchs in matters of their related important subjects. Through their performances, Dali works to make a change by making people watch, ask questions and reveal paradoxical human realities. The queer performer as they wants to be represented is always on research to dig into queer subjects from different related subjects in particular through art and the queer situation in Tunisia. besides, their performance talents and with an experience in theater, Dali has played in a short movie called “Le temps d’un souffle” directed by Hedia Chaouali. Moving from acting and performing, they currently works on a new

Nadia Tlich is a professional actor and puppeteer from Mednine, Tunisia, she graduated from the Higher Institute of  Dramatic Art and Theater in Tunis with a master's in performing arts and theater.  Following her academic studies in performing arts and theater, Nadia Tlich has won different awards both in Tunisia and abroad, she won an award at “The Modern Theater Festival in Kairouan Tunisia, and two awards for best actor for the first role in Egypt during 2 editions of “ Alexandria's 11th Theatre Without Fund Festival, besides an award in puppet manipulation at “ مهرجان أم لعرايس بقفصة”. Believing that acting is a way of resistance, manifest and medium to defend human rights and make a change, the professional actor works in collaboration with different local associations and non-governmental organizations such as the  International Organization for Migration (IOM) in different regions and villages located in the south of Tunisia including  Mednine, Gabes, Sidi Makhlouf, Tataouione, Kebili. Her contribution is concentrated on animating and organizing workshops, and masterclasses in various youth and cultural clubs and the Center for Dramatic and Performing Arts in Medenine and Gabes dedicated to different individuals adults, youth, and kids in particular vulnerable women and kids with the

Originating from Ketana, a small village located in Gabes in the south of Tunisia, Ali Belwafi dreams of representing his origin to the worldwide cinema awards, festivals, and events. Showing a tremendous passion for European scenarists, and filmmakers such as the Russian Andrei Tarkovsky ( 1932 - 1986) and one of the most influential Swedish filmmakers Ingmar Bergman ( 1918 - 2007), Ali Belwafi is interested in following seventh art passion and interest. At the age of 8, the dreamer started theater classes during a camp in his region to continue doing it for 12 years later, during his theater classes and with the support of his teacher Nawfel Bel Bahri he was introduced to different playwrights, poets, and actors such as the English writer and dramatist William Shakespeare (1564 – 616) and one of the most influential writer in the french language and word literature Jean-Baptiste Poquelin known for Molière (1622 - 1673). Getting a lot of knowledge in the 4th art, Ali Belwafi has enhanced his writing and his acting skills, he won the best actor for acting in 2 theatrical pieces “ The king has died” in Gabes, and for playing in another one at Ketana festivals.  Following his

It takes only some Afro music and everything will transform into Afro dance with Yassine Belgacem. Giving a very fresh and energetic spirit to the dance room, the Afro-dancer amazes us with his moving legs, Afro-house movement, and smooth techniques. Originally from Gabes governorate, where he currently lives and practices his performing art, Yassine Belgacem has been practicing different African dance styles such as ndombolo, afro house, kuduro, azonto, and afrobeat. Like most dancers, especially those who live in regions with no dance academic discipline,  Yassine known for lil soon nurtured his dance passion by practicing and experimenting with dance styles including hip hop and African dance to be established as an Afro-dancer in Tunisia, his practice and using dance as a medium helped him to develop not only moving and physical skills but also soft skills such as communication, empathy, self-confidence, teamwork, and networking. Lil Soon in cooperation with his friend Dancers created Afro Dance Non-Stop Crew in Gabes that is currently trained by the Tunisian Afro dancer Fatouma Hamidi.  Through his solo and group performance, Yassine has been part of different local and regional competitions including Label’Zic in Medenine, Tunisia Championship, and regional southern festivals and events. During his participation

Getting attention for his special character, animation, waving and his backslide on the scene, Eslem who has only 21 years old has captured audiences through his incredible muscle movement and footwork techniques such as Gliding, floating, and sliding. From Gabes, a region in the south of Tunisia, Eslam Hammadi has excelled in his own popping dance style that he started in a private club in 2019. In addition to the self-training and due to the scarcity of cultural dance events and opportunities in the south compared to the north, the Tunisian popper dancer has been practicing in different outdoor places, in the street participating in regional events, showcases, and in groups dance battles, Moreover, he performed with associations, and collaborated at dance creation for El Hama National festival. As he currently lives in his hometown which lacks possibilities of making a living out of pop dance or any other art forms, Eslam tries to make a change and turns the challenges into opportunities. Rooted in Boogallo's freestyle movement and funk music rhythms, Pop dance has given a special character to Eslem Hamadi and took the audience's attention with his movements and poses. Wishing to have more exchange between different local, national, and

Presented as one of the few dancers in his town, Kebili, a Tunisian governorate located in the south of Tunisia, Salah works to animate the Kebili art scene in particular toward dance that has witnessed a lot of challenges and discrimination based on traditions, stereotypes, regionalism, and gender. Regardless of the challenges that Salah has faced practicing dance, he has been developing his practice and experimenting with different styles starting with pop, crumb, hip hop, break, salsa, and Latino.  Debuting in 2008 at an art club in his town school, to become in 2016 a dance trainer at different cultural and youth centers in his hometown, Salah is working to change the locals' opinion about moving bodies, moreover, to develop and revive the dance art scene in Kebili. Although the non-existence of dance schools in his town or Tunisian south surrounding regions, the change maker has developed his practice through his intern experience and his participation in different workshops, competitions, and events including the Carthage Choreographic Days, Kebili and Medenine dance festivals and regional competition, and Tataouine regional competition where he won 3 gold medals. Continually following his passion and making a change in the Kebili dance art scene either by teaching

With a study in industrial maintenance, Jacem Said has changed his career in his study field to focus on his passion to be established as a rapper. In 2011, he started to produce and show his songwriting via Slam or Rap. Since a very young age, Jacem used to reflect on his quotidian, by writing as he feels it is his comfort zone to elaborate words that speak up about his daily life, the challenges, and Tunisia's political, economical, social, and environmental situation. Not only using music to manifest and perform, Jacem is also an activist with stop pollution in  Gabes, a region in Tunisia southern, who has an experience in Theater, more precisely with “ Rahala ”  group, an innovative cultural experience initiated by Dancers Citizen South that travels to different regions, villages and towns in Tunisia southern to perform and to show different theatrical pieces for the goal to decentralize, integrate and include all the people especially the marginalized in cultural and artistic events. Furthermore and in collaboration with the singer Lufi and the producer Nadhir Boussaoud, he founded the group V.I.B.E in which he was the songwriter and singer. For the last few years, Jacem has been performing either