Donald Byrd’s ‘Chekhovian Resolution’ of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

My wife just showed me a post card announcing a most amazing and wonderful modern dance program created by Seattle choreographer, Donald Byrd of Spectrum Dance Theater.  He has  collaborated with Israeli choreographers Liat Dror and Nir Ben Gal, and Palestinian musician Wissam Murad in the world premiere of A Chekhovian Resolution on November 21-22 at the Moore Theater in Seattle.

Here is how the program notes explain the program title:

The Israeli writer and philosopher Amos Oz sees this conflict as a “tragedy in the exact sense of the word”–a “collision between one very powerful claim and another no less powerful.” Oz underscores that a “Chekhovian Resolution” (referencing one of Chekhov’s signature themes) might leave the antagonists embittered and in despair, but unlike the outcomes of typical Shakespearean tragedy, at least alive; with potential, therefore, for the return of hope and even redemption.

Another reason this event jumped out at me is Wissam Murad, who I’ve written about here.  He is the founder of the Palestinian musical ensemble Sabreen and collaborated with David Broza on the first song written jointly by a Palestinian and Israeli, B’Libi (hear it).  The song is a dark and powerful meditation on the power of the land and the human bond to it as reflected in the conflict.

The Israeli choreographers founded the Ben Gal Dror Dance Company, one of Israel’s premiere modern dance ensembles.

This promises to be an extraordinary artistic meditation on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by four stellar artists committed to making a contribution to express the suffering and hope of both peoples for peace.

I hope to meet Wissam and maybe I can get him on KBCS if he has the time.