MAJNUN

Majnun is a production by theatre maker Amira al Rawi, created in collaboration with the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra (AAO) and Maas Theatre and Dance. In this performance, music and dance merge into a contemporary retelling of the timeless story of Layla and Majnun. This 7th-century Arabic tale tells of an impossible love—of forbidden passion that leads to madness and estrangement. Together with musicians from the AAO, Al Rawi brings this centuries-old story to the stage in a modern form, combining hip hop, street dance styles, and flamenco with live Arabo-Andalusian music.

Rather than portraying alienation as a lack or deficiency, Majnun explores it as a source of strength and imagination. At a time when cultural and social frameworks seem to be narrowing, the performance invites audiences to break through the illusions and masks of identity and discover freedom in the elusive and the unknown.

Amira al Rawi is a self-taught dancer and theatre maker with a background in hip hop and street dance styles. She has been mentored by, among others, Shailesh Bahoran, Leo Spreksel, and Merel Heering.

Al Rawi creates intimate performances that bring together a distinctive blend of dance styles. Her work is not only about breaking free from stereotypes, but also about creating new realities that challenge and transcend stigma. She draws on dance forms rooted in resistance and non-conformity, including hip hop all styles, waacking, and house dance. More recently, she has incorporated flamenco into her artistic vocabulary, further enriching and deepening her choreographic language.

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra (AAO) was founded in Amsterdam in 2011 and has grown into an ensemble that effortlessly bridges tradition and innovation. Rooted in the centuries-old Arabo-Andalusian musical tradition, enriched by folk music from the Maghreb and Eastern sharqi music, the orchestra has developed a distinctive artistic signature that honours its heritage while embracing the future. Its core ensemble consists of around twenty musicians, joined by guest singers and composers from the Netherlands and abroad. Their work is inspired by musical styles that encourage experimentation and exchange, including jazz, flamenco, and contemporary composition. In 2024, the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra received the Cultuurfonds Prize.