Bilal Allaf at World Expo, 2025

At World Expo 2025, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion became a vibrant platform for creative exchange, brought to life through a programme of artist residencies and live performances. Produced by DDX in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the programme featured a changing lineup of Saudi musicians, composers and performers. As part of this programme, contemporary dance and performance artist Bilal Allaf took up residency in the Music Studio for four weeks, presenting an immersive, collaborative exploration of motion, music and emotion.

Specialising in interpretive dance, choreography, film and photography, and rooted in Jeddah’s dynamic performance scene, Allaf focuses on the relationship between motion and emotion, highlighting contrasts while finding common ground. During his residency, he collaborated with Saudi composer and producer Majid Alateeq and Japanese musicians Kackey and Sy Lokk to create a bespoke musical score, choreographing performances celebrating nature, water and life.

Bilal’s residency was highly improvisational, with live sessions combining performance and discussion,  allowing visitors to observe his creative process while engaging directly with him. Daily performances throughout the four-week residency invited audiences into the evolving work, offering an intimate experience of the interplay between music, movement and collaboration.