Sofiane Chalal: XXL

Sofiane Chalal’s hip-hop dance performance XXL addresses the thorny issue of being seen as overweight in society. Rather than hide behind euphemisms and concealment, XXL centres ‘non-standard’ bodies to dismantle pejorative labels and celebrate a journey towards acceptance and recognition. Despite tackling the pain of exclusion, XXL is conceived as a lighthearted piece; through the spontaneity of its performers, a chain of diverse personalities come alive on stage. Chalal embraces excess, generosity and the contagious power of laughter to present a performance that soothes both the body and soul.

This is part of the fifth edition of Perform Sharjah, Sharjah Art Foundation’s season of curated performances that serve as an engaging space for exploring, remembering and imagining – “treating the body as a site of artistic inquiry, the programme shifts fluidly between intimate reflection and collective experience”.