Break Us Free
By Rana Madanat
Contemporary Dance, Feminist Narratives, Movement and Identity
“Break Us Free” is a deeply personal trio choreographed by Rana Madanat, inspired by a statistic she encountered in an article stating that 1 in 2 women worldwide has given up on her dreams. As a Jordanian female dance artist with over a decade of experience, Rana reflects on the cultural structures that shape — and often limit — women’s ambitions, particularly when their dreams do not align with traditional ideals of success.
This work brings together Rana with two teenage dancers, Rimas and Jenna, who have trained under her for more than five years. Through months of dedicated rehearsal, the trio crafted a 10-minute piece that serves as an act of collective resistance and self-expression.
The performance interrogates societal expectations imposed on women, from how to speak and behave, to the careers they’re encouraged to pursue. The result is a raw, evolving audio-visual work that captures the intimate process of reclaiming agency through dance.
In Break Us Free, choreography becomes a form of dialogue, a means of confronting internalized limitations and offering hope. With every gesture, the dancers ask: What does it mean to be free? And what must be unlearned to truly become oneself?
Rana Madanat
Rana Madanat is a dynamic dance artist and instructor with over a decade of experience in Hip Hop and commercial dance. She began her professional journey in 2008, teaching children and adults while refining her skills through local and regional workshops. With several dance competition titles to her name, Rana continues to develop her choreographic voice, drawing from her background as a backup dancer and performer. Her work often explores themes of self-expression, social expectations, and female empowerment through movement.