NAM: Non Aligned Movement
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1 dec20:30 - 21:15TR25 Schouwburg, RotterdamKrijn Boon Studio
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2 dec20:30 - 21:30TR25 Schouwburg, RotterdamKrijn Boon Studio
Choreographer Christian Guerematchi and musician Shishani Vranck embark on a journet to hidden cultural messages, inspired by the movement of non-aligned countries.
For generations, cultural codes have been systematically suppressed and to counter this, a people has hidden coded information in capsules. The capsules are scattered through time and space. Every so often someone has to perform a symbolic ritual to release the message again.
Choreographer Christian Guerematchi and musician Shishani Vranckx both have roots in Europe and Africa. They are nourished by their own background and the voices and movements of the African diaspora. In NAM they go on an epic afro-futuristic journey to the Balkans.
NAM - Non Aligned Movement is the first part of the broader movement and voice research project Epistemologies of The Body, which focuses on narratives of the black body. The title is inspired by the 1960s movement of "nonaligned countries" that played a role in the independence struggles of so-called third world countries. Josip Broz Tito, the president of Yugoslavia was one of the founders of this movement. An important source of inspiration is the book Tito in Africa - Pictures of Solidarity. It describes Tito's attempts to decolonize the world.
The performance includes an aftertalk with maker Christian Guerrematchi and Dr Catherine Baker.
About the makers
Christian Guerematchi grew up in Slovenia, where he completed his ballet training and became a member of the Slovenian National Ballet. In 2006 he came to the Netherlands where he worked with choreographers such as Stephen Shropshire, Emio Greco | Pieter C. Scholten and Nicole Beutler. He combines his dance career with making his own work. He is fascinated by human existence and the social structures involved. Skin colour, and in particular the black body in a world where white culture predominates, sexual orientation and gender are themes that emerge repeatedly in his work.
Shishani is a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter with roots in Namibia and Belgium, but grew up in the Netherlands. In her work she brings these worlds together. She has won several awards for her work at home and abroad and tours internationally. With her quartet Namibian Tales she investigated musical traditions of the San people in the Kalahari Desert in cooperation with UNESCO.
Team
concept, choreografie en productie Christian Guerematchi tekst en dramaturgie Gita Hacham muziek Shishani vormgeving Jonathan Ho met dank aan ICK Dans Amsterdam, het Amsterdamse Fonds voor de Kunsten en de Nieuwemakersregeling van het Fonds Podiumkunsten