Saudi by Soony: Dancing in the Street
Saudi Arabia has a long tradition of dance, with unique styles across the country showcasing the diversity of musical traditions. However! Everything tradition was a new thing once. Now there’s a fresh generation of dancers in the Kingdom blending hip-hop moves with traditional influences to create something truly Saudi. Soony, is one Saudi street dancer who’s found new ways to express himself, while inspired by those who came before. We catch up with Soony to find out more about him, his inspirations, and the next steps for his dance steps.
Q: Tell us about yourself – Who is Hassan Abdulrahman and is he a different person from Soony?
Two names, one person. My name is Hassan Abdulrahman, but I’m usually known as Soony both among my friends as well as artistically and professionally. I can’t explain why – but call one or the other and you’ll find me. And there’s no difference between Hassan and Soony, we’re artists expressing freedom, authenticity, and soul in everything we do.
Q: When and how did you start dancing?
It was two of my older brothers that first inspired me. I began dancing because of them. When I was little, I would watch them dance and start to copy their moves, their passion, and the way they expressed who they were so easily. And to this day, I find when I’m moving with music, that moving means dancing, dancing means expression, and expression means the freedom to be your authentic self.
Q: What are some of your favourite tracks and/or artists to dance to?
I grew up listening to Michael Jackson and dancing to his music. Today, though, my focus is more on hip-hop dance. For me, when it comes to beats, nothing beats DFUSION, a producer and dancer from Germany, and Tellax, a producer and rapper from France with deep Congolese roots. But that’s just two, there’s so much great music, crazy beats, and wild dancers out there I couldn’t name them all here. Just open your ears and eyes, here in the Kingdom or anywhere, and you’ll see or hear something to get your body moving.
Q: How do people in Saudi and around the world react when they see you dancing? Do they appreciate the way you blend traditional Saudi styles with modern hip hop?
Here in Saudi, people seem to really enjoy the fusion of hip-hop dance with traditional Saudi dance. It represents a new leap forward in the world of dance – you can see it in the popularity of Terhal, which blends all sorts of dance styles to blow minds and that I’ve loved being a part of, and in the reactions of passers-by when we’re dancing in the streets. And internationally? I’ve got a lot of friends and followers from around the world now and they’re amazed by what they see and hear from Saudi. They always ask: Where, when, and how did you start this? And since when has this type of dance existed in the Kingdom? And my answer is always that dance has always been here and will always been here. And like always, we’re blending in new influences to go somewhere that’s new, but still truly Saudi.
Q: How do you practice? Do you consciously develop new moves and blend these styles or is that something that happens naturally?
There’s one constant – Every practice or training session is different from the others. Why? Because whether I’m dancing alone or with a few friends, you never know where the inspiration will take you. It can be the same music, the same beat, but something leads you to move in a different way or in a different sequence than before. So, you create something new every time whether you mean to or not. That’s one of the amazing thing about hip hop, it’s a way to truly express who you are, where you’ve come from, where you’re going, and what your soul feels through dance.
Q: What makes Saudi Arabia today a unique place for your kind of dancing and what would you say to anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps in Saudi Arabia today?
One word: the culture. We have a new and rising generation that will make history under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 as we seize these new opportunities to express ourselves, our diverse cultures, and our souls. So, to anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps I say, “don’t listen to people who try to discourage you, and stay away from those who envy you. Always listen to yourself, and make sure you know exactly what you want.”
Q: What are your ambitions for your own next steps in dance in Saudi?
All I can say is: stay tuned.
Watch Soony’s moves and see Saudi Arabia through his eyes.
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