Mayas in Mar Mkhayel with Dayf

There's something about dancers that makes even the most ordinary spaces feel like a stage. A kitchen counter becomes a barre, a dining table becomes a place to stretch, and a balcony overlooking Mar Mikhael suddenly offers the perfect excuse for a little choreography.

That was certainly the case when we welcomed members of Mayyas, the internationally acclaimed Lebanese dance group, into our heritage apartments in Mar Mikhael.

The occasion was a special one. Mayyas had returned to Beirut for Al Awda (The Return), their much anticipated production at Seaside Arena. Inspired by the life and writings of Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Gibran, the performance brought the group's signature choreography and storytelling to the Beirut stage.

Among the performers arriving for the occasion were members of the group's extended international ensemble, travelling from Spain and Romania. For their time in Beirut, Dayf welcomed the dancers into four apartments within the same heritage property in Mar Mikhael, giving them the convenience of staying together while having their own spaces to retreat to.

A Different Kind of Rehearsal Space

With a major performance on the horizon, preparation naturally followed the dancers home.

Between rehearsals and show preparations, the apartments took on a life of their own. Legs stretched across dining tables, impromptu dance poses appeared in the kitchen, and the building's original tiled floors, high ceilings, and green wooden shutters became an unexpected backdrop for the group's movements.

It was a lovely contrast. The precision and discipline that Mayyas is known for on stage met the much more spontaneous, playful side of the dancers off it.

And while their days were largely shaped by the demands of the show, there was still plenty of room for a little Beirut.

A Taste of Mar Mikhael

Staying in Mar Mikhael meant being right in the middle of one of Beirut's liveliest neighbourhoods. Just outside their apartments, the streets offered an entirely different rhythm, with neighbourhood cafés, restaurants, bars, and the city's famously late nights all within walking distance.

Between preparations, the dancers found time to explore the neighbourhood, enjoy its nightlife, and experience Beirut beyond the rehearsal schedule.

And when time allowed, they ventured beyond the capital too, taking little escapes to discover more of Lebanon before returning to their home base in Mar Mikhael.

For dancers who had travelled from abroad, the stay was an opportunity to experience the country behind the performance, not just the stage they had come to perform on.

A Home Between Performances

Hosting Mayyas was a reminder of something we love about opening our homes to guests. Every stay brings a different story into a space.

For a few days, our Mar Mikhael apartments became a meeting point for dancers from different corners of the world, somewhere to rest tired feet, share a meal, get ready for a big night, and enjoy the little moments in between.

And judging by the photographs, it seems the dancing never really stopped.

Until next time, Mayyas. It was a pleasure having you at Dayf