Nermin Habib develops a composite system of gestures which harks back to a long cultural and artistic tradition (baladi dance) and her training and experience in contemporary dance, acquired through a range of artistic activities in Cairo and throughout the world. The combination of these two influences forms the foundation for her choreographic work, which focuses on themes of belonging and identity, using the body as a tool of resilience and defiance in response to a fluctuating environment. Here, she looks at the changing identity of the Egyptian capital since the early 1990s and its physical impact on artistic practices. It is a city of magical cacophony and magnificent buildings where economic aspects and social influences overlap, like this solo where Habib’s gestures intertwine with her memories of places, her nostalgia and her personal perceptions. In response to the destruction of Cairo’s architectural heritage and the changes taking place in the city, its identity and its cultural scene, Nermin Habib occupies the stage or the street with a stimulating and liberating dance experience. She inhabits these spaces fully, pleading urgently for the city’s unique features to be preserved, in harmony with the filmed images and the original soundtrack.