Omar Rajeh is one of the most notable current dance artists from the Arabic-speaking world and currently lives in Lyon. His works are deeply rooted in social and political themes and deliberately transcend conventional boundaries. In 2002, he founded the dance company Maqamat, and in 2004, the Beirut International Platform of Dance (BIPOD). He is also a co-founder of the Masahat Dance Network, which connects contemporary dance artists in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan.
In 2017, Maqamat completed one of its most ambitious projects – the establishment of Citerne Beirut – an innovative cultural centre that was the only one of its kind in Lebanon but was shut down in August 2019 due to the country’s economic and political collapse. In December 2019, Omar Rajeh moved to Lyon, France, where he launched the digital platform Citerne.live. In 2021, the French Ministry of Culture awarded him the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).

The presentation of Dance Is Not for Us as part of the 29th edition of the Flora Theatre Festival also marks the first guest performance by Omar Rajeh and his company in the Czech Republic!