Studio 8

Studio 8

Studio 8 is a non-for-profit company active in the fields of dance and performing arts based in Amman. ​

Our Story

Our story starts from a choreographer and performer who lives in Amman, Jordan.

His name is Abd Al-hadi Abunahleh.

Abd started to practice dance on the streets of Amman when he was 16 years old with his brother Anas. They belong to Jordan’s very first street dance generation.

After more than 10 years of practice and advocating for dance development in the country, Abd and Anas started a dance collective to bridge the gap between dance and the Jordanian public and to challenge the perception of dance within communities.

In their performances, the performers’ relationship with the audience is direct and intimate. After a performance, one of the audience, a visual artist Ren Xiaoman, approached Abd with a question about his dream in the field of dance, the most radical form of performing arts in a conservative culture located in an unstable region. Abd and Anas told her that they dream of a central platform for aspiring young people to showcase their potential, and the need for opportunities which provide inclusive creative projects that are crucial for allowing the dance to thrive and survive in Jordan. Ren nodded and joined them.

This is the birth of “Studio 8”. We became The Studio symbolized by the number 8 which refers to a count-down to the moment when a dancer starts to dance.

What do we do?

  • We maintain a dance lab.
  • We create original productions.
  • We tour and perform our productions.
  • We organize a dance biennale, called “IDEA” (International Dance Encounter Amman).
  • We also organize performing arts workshops, classes and other events for public.  

Since 2014, we have collaborated with more than 400 people of 32 nationalities in creating 4 original dance productions, given more than 30 performances organizing more than 100 classes and workshops, creating a festival, making almost 100 dance videos, co-creating residency, exhibition, dance discussion, community art walk and street art fair.

Since 2019, we have been rehabilitating an office space on Thaqafa Street, Shmeisani, Amman into a dynamic performing arts lab which provides a flexible practice space with dance floor, a workshop/exhibition space and a library.

The Team