UNION OF CONTEMPORARY AND HIP-HOP

UNION OF CONTEMPORARY AND HIP-HOP


Lisa Sterne

“Haine Terre Rieur” choreographed by Reunion Island’s Cedric Saidou (Kenji ) ended with a partial standing ovation, in appreciation of the sure athletic skill, acrobatic contortions, sustained strength, precision and stylization of dance technique of the two male performers Shany Arzeux and Didier Boutianaa.

Unbelievably, this is the first piece that Kenji has ever created and took him four months to create two years ago. The programme describes “Haine Terre Rieur” (meaning internal personal thoughts and the anger caused by one’s cultural background and definitions): as a duality of personality. Kenji was working in France and felt extremely lonely and foreign. He used these feelings and experiences as inspiration for his choreography.

Kenji fuses hip-hop and contemporary in an extremely strong, beautiful and respectful way creating a breathtaking performance. The music includes French lyrics, allowing the South African audience to relate to the choreographer’s experience of being an outsider looking in.

Stephane Gaze’s lighting enhances the movements often accentuating lines and creating a feast for the eyes. In the first section, the front low lights created a warm bronzed canvas. The rapid movements of the lit dancers created a vision that sometimes seemed blurred. It felt like we were viewing the dance through a camera that was slightly out of focus. At one point the dancers were dancing on what appeared to be a grid pattern on the floor (created by the overhead lights); this could allude to feelings of isolation in one’s own thoughts in an unfamiliar country. The rest of the dances made use of many different kinds of lighting from lights strapped to the hands, to florescent light and a light resembling a candle. To describe it, would not do it justice. You must see it for yourself! The next performance is today:

Sunday 5 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at 18:30.