The London Algerian Ballet   

In 2013, the Algerian community in the UK remains largely absent in the showcase of international folklore. Although fast-growing and increasingly prosperous, the Algerian diaspora in the UK is still haunted by long-lasting echoes in the media of the tragic civil war of the 1990s. And the resulting stereotypes remain unchallenged.

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Algerian cultural events are rarely seen across the UK, and initiatives to connect and allow for expression and exchange are few and far between.

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In this context, Toufik teamed up with Algerian choreographer Farah Nasri to create the London Algerian Ballet: A show presenting a wide variety of dances and music from different eras and regions of Algeria, ranging from the mystical, exuberantly ornamented Ouled Nail, to the masculine war dances of the Touareg, to the upbeat, celebratory Kabyle, and the exceedingly popular modern style known as Raï. The diversity in dance styles, costuming and music that is to be found in Algeria is staggering, and it is this kaleidoscope of cultural stories that the London Algerian Ballet is keen to share with a wider audience than ever before.

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The particularity of this theatrical show is that it is set within a historical and cultural narrative and performed by all non-Algerian dancers, all keen to be an ambassador for the Algerian culture. While Toufik and Farah talked about bringing the show again on stage, no new representations have been confirmed. Yet, there is still an active and growing fanbase for this unique project - on Social Media - more than 10 years after its inception.