© Senda Jebali
Akal
Can choreography bridge the gaps in our historical memory? Akal (Tamazight for “Earth”) is the third piece of a trilogy by Radouan Mriziga, in which he draws inspiration from the epistemologies of the Imazighen, the indigenous people of North Africa. Their oral culture has been disregarded for centuries, but Mriziga sees it as the source of a new future. Each piece of the trilogy is focused on mythological female figures, who embody and protect the Amazigh culture.
In Akal, the muse is the ancient Egyptian goddess Neith, associated with birth and death, who guides the souls of the dead to the underworld.In this solo, Mriziga and Rwandan choreographer, dancer and singer Dorothée Munyaneza collaborate to celebrate Neith’s strength. Rituals, traditional dances, architecture, storytelling, song, poetry, rap: all come together in Akal in an intimate choreographic space. Here, a new view of a suppressed past allows us to envision a more inclusive future.
CREDITS
Concept and Choreography
Radouan Mriziga
Made with and performed by
Dorothée Munyaneza
Choreographic assistants
Maïté Minh Tâm Jeannolin
Sondos Belhassen
Dramaturgical support
Esther Severi
Research support
Hajar Ibnouthen
Scenographic concept
Tewa Barnosa and Radouan Mriziga
Visual artwork
Tewa Barnosa
Light design
Estelle Gautier
Costume Design
Lila John
Technical Director
Estelle Gautier
Sound Technician
Milan Van Doren
Poem contribution
‘I fled this realm’ by Asmaa Jama
Assistance
Rania Barhoumi
Production
A7LA5 vzw
Distribution
Something Great
Co-production
DeSingel, Kaaitheater, Tanzquartier Wien, PACT Zollverein, Festival de Marseille, Walker Art Center, Wexner Center for the Arts, Contemporary Arts Center and Cultuurcentrum C-Mine
Residencies
Kaaitheater, deSingel, Festival de Marseille & Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek
Special thanks to
Sharjah Art Foundation
Funded by
De Vlaamse Overheid