A choreographic journey - Nigeria, Madagascar, Haïti, Mali and Spain represented by the guest artists in “Dense Bamako Danse” in the local neighbourhood of Magnambougou.
Two of the invited guest artists to the 2011 edition of “Dense Bamako Danse” are prizewinners from last year’s African Dance Biennale – the Nigerian choreographer Qudus Onikeku who presents his solo “STILL/Life” and Julie Iarisoa from Madagascar performing her new work “Mavo”.
Qudus Onikeku grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and studied in France at the Centre National des Arts du Cirque. His training in contemporary circus and acrobatics is evident in his work, as is his interest in traditional Nigerian dance, hip hop and capoeira. They all contribute to Qudus’ highly energised and individual choreographic voice. STILL/Life is a piece about extremes and contrasts - highs and lows, good and evil, reality and imagination.
Julie Iarisoa explores the story of a woman in her work “Mavo” - the daily struggles that women may encounter anywhere in the world, alongside a more personal story about finding one’s own path and sharing happiness with others. Julie grew up in Madagascar and has been dancing since the age of 8. She has an interest in exploring the relationship between contemporary dance and traditional Madagascan dance – notably the significance of informal gatherings and street dance in Madagascar.
Both “STILL/Life’ and “Mavo” are strong solo works, brimming with vitality and personality.
Aly Karembe is a well-known figure in the contemporary dance scene in Bamako. He trained with Kettly Noël at Donko Seko, and won the Prix Fondation Orange Mali 2010 for his solo “IDOBSCURE” in the African Dance Biennale last year. His new piece “Les Sorciers” receives its premiere performance at “Dense Bamako Danse” after a period of research in his family’s village in the Dogon Country.
The Haïtian choreographer Jean Aurel Maurice trained in the Caribbean, France and the USA and was a member of Dance Theater of Harlem, New York. He presents two works in the festival – “Déjà Vu” - created during a residency supported by Donko Seko for the Pixelini Festival earlier in October (organised by Ker Thiossane and the Collectif Yeta) -
and a solo work “Haïti en questions”:
And Jordi L. Vidal, the Catelan choreographer brings his duo “Chrysalis” to Dense Bamako Danse – a work that combines circus skills, dance and acrobatics to explore the dynamics between a couple.
