Photo : Faro Faro © Mikro
Faro Faro
Compagnie N'Soleh
(Ivory Coast)
Virtuoso dance in an urban boxing ring in yopougon
For all ages
We’re already expecting that this production from Ivorian Massidi Adiatou will have the same impact as D-Construction, from Compagnie Dyptik in 2019. Combining hip-hop dance and explorations of African urban dances, the choreographer dreams up a boxing ring in Yopougon, a working-class neighbourhood in Abidjan, where the “sape” (literally "Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People”, embodying the elegant style and manners of colonial predecessor dandies) and dance cultures mix in an unexpected ball that combines influences and traditions. This uniquely styled battle offers a virtuoso combination of breakdance, Ivorian coupé-décalé dance music, martial arts, acrobatics and traditional African dances, and brims with infectious energy.

It’s a summer evening in the Ivory Coast, in a suburb of Yopougon in Abidjan. A boxing ring stands in a hot alley, full of people and colours. Splendid-looking men and women decked out in formal attire crowd together. These night beauties and sapeurs are joined by groups of dancing bikers, jet setters, boucantiers (Coupé-Décalé artists) and DJs. Each outdoes the other in the ring in a display of movements from their respective cultures.

The outcome is Faro Faro, an ode to the multiplicity of everyday life, to energy and to collective power, by Ivorian choreographer, dancer and set designer Massidi Adiatou. It’s a delightful and fascinating choreographic oddity showcasing the virtuosity of these urban-inspired dances, celebrating fashion, swagger and the sape culture, and using movement to honour African cultural diversity. The show combines concepts that the choreographer used to create the “Maspros” technique, which mixes movements inspired by hip-hop, fashion and ostentation, enabling everyone to express their cultural diversity in the same collective work. It’s a way of being in a world that bursts into a fireworks display of urban dance, acrobatics, speed and virtuosity.

BIOGRAPHY

Compagnie N’Soleh

Born in Nigeria and later fleeing to Ivory Coast as a refugee, choreographer, dancer and scenographer Massidi Adiatou started out in Abidjan in front of nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and neighbourhood dances, learning urban dances like popping, funk, break dance, soukous, gnaman-gnaman, and ziguehi. In 1994, he founded his own dance company, N’Soleh, and won first prize at the Rencontres chorégraphiques de l’Afrique et de l’Océan indien competition, with Corps Actif (1997). It became the first in a long series of distinctions, including best choreographer at the Concours de Danse Interafricaine (1998) and the Concours International de la Seine Saint-Denis (Bagnolet, 1999 and 2000), the Performing Arts Award of Excellence (Ivory Coast, 2014), and a medal at the 8th edition of Francophone Games (2018). With his partner, Haitian choreographer and dancer Jenny Mezile, he also designed the opening ceremony of the African Cup of Nations (Mali 2002). The company also offers continuing education in contemporary and urban dance.

DISTRIBUTION

Direction artistique et chorégraphique : Massidi ADIATOU
Assistant-chorégraphe : Fernand IRIE
Scénographie et costumes : Massidi ADIATOU
Lumières : Fernand IRIE
Musicien : Seydou KIENOU
Danseurs et interprètes : Antoine ILBOUDO, Mariama ADIATU, Amankon Alex Jordan ADOU, David Martial AZOKOU, Media Thie BAKAYOKO, Zlangnan Sandrine BIEU, Bamoussa DIOMANDE, Gnahoua Christ-Junior DOGBOLE, Joulkanaya KIEBRE, Jean-Luc Stéphane TEHE
Photos-videos : Laurent DIBY, Alexis FOURNEL

Saturday 03 July 2021
16:30 > 17:30
Parc du Thabor, Théâtre de Verdure, Rennes
Sunday 04 July 2021
18:30 > 19:30
Parc du Thabor, Théâtre de Verdure, Rennes

Free • No reservation required • The doors will open 30 minutes before the beginning of the show
500 seats
More information 02 99 32 56 56

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The association is supported by the City of Rennes, the Brittany Region, the Ille-et-Vilaine Department & the ministry of culture.

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