words by DEBORAH DRENOFCI
The coolest thing about Amsterdam Dance Event week is that good tunes are right around the corner, even in a small, local shop like Aladdin’s Notenhoek. On Thursday, 22 October, Foam joined forces with Amsterdam’s independent radio station Echobox to present the sounds of In Her Own Way - an outdoor exhibition on Mercatorplein by the Egyptian-French photographer Yomna El Beyaly. Through their musical selections, Karmel, Noise Diva and ZINEB shared cultural references, sources of inspiration and a connection to the themes of El Beyaly’s work.
ADE: Foam x Echobox © Foam. Photo by Hannah Schleifer
In Her Own Way is part of Foam’s collaboration with Middle East Archive, a platform that celebrates visual storytelling from the Middle East and North Africa. Yomna El Beyaly’s work revolves around the matriarch, playing with identity, femininity across generations, community, and the shared love and growth passed on by the women in one’s life. It is an exhibition that captures home through pictures of grandmothers, cousins, mothers and sisters.
When we entered Aladdin’s Notenhoek, Karmel was playing a selection of Arabic tracks. The shop was bathed in warm orange tones that made everyone feel at home. If the space could be described in one word, it would be chrysalism - the feeling of being peaceful and sheltered indoors. There was something beautiful about a DJ setup in front of shelves and shelves of peanuts, raisins and mixtures of it all. Two trays of tahini-covered falafel bites were set aside for the guests, but the real magic was a cake being served around. Perhaps it had coconut flakes, but it definitely seemed to be covered in a dusting of sherbet. It was like biting into a cloud, with some crunch and attitude. Kids danced around freely while their parents enjoyed a piece of that spectacular dessert.
It is heartwarming that photography, music, dance and a local business can meet in such a way. Events like these are a reminder to keep dancing through the little, mundane things, places and moments of life. Until the next ADE, that’s the plan.
