<DIV>Dance is intimately woven into the lives of the people of the Southern Mediterranean. It extends beyond studios and reaches into streets, homes, politics and families. It is expressed in a myriad of ways that reflect a cultural reality of hybrid, diverse and dynamic societies. But existing accounts of dance in the region have been subject to misinterpretation, succumbing to distorted, romanticized and exoticized impressions. Talking Dance - the Southern Mediterranean captures the true voices of dancers from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, as well as the other countries of the region. It provides a rich montage of stories that challenge existing representations of dance in the Southern Mediterranean, revealing the diverse cultural and political experience embodied in dance and emphasizing its central role in contemporary Middle East culture.</p></div>