Danse Danse – Press kit La Otra Orilla (Québec) Moi&lesAutres 1  

     

PRESS KIT LA OTRA ORILLA

 MOI&LESAUTRES (Creation) Myriam Allard + Hedi Graja January 27. 28. 29. 30, 2016 February 3, 4, 5, 6, 2016 Place des arts, Cinquième Salle March 3, 2016, Symphony Space, New York, United States March 5, 2016, Rialto Center for the Arts, Atlanta, United States March 30, 2016, Live Art, Halifax, Canada

Danse Danse – Press kit La Otra Orilla (Québec) Moi&lesAutres 2  

The charismatic Myriam Allard and her accomplice Hedi Graja once again break new ground in flamenco with their most recent piece. They set the stage ablaze in a series of tableaux that merge dance and live music into an exciting whole. Intense, dazzling, thrilling.

MOI&LESAUTRES

CREDITS

World Premiere : Jacobs Pillow Festival, August 12 to 16, 2015

Conception, Choreography, Staging : Myriam Allard and Hedi Graja

On stage  Myriam Allard (dance), Hedi Graja (voice), Miguel Medina (percussions), Caroline Planté

(guitar)

Musical composer : Caroline Planté

Bass : Mathieu Désy

Set Design : Hedi Graja

Lighting Design : Étienne Boucher

Costume Design : Marianne Thériault

Rehearsal : Hélène Messier

Technical and Sound Director : Philippe Pelletier

Lights Manager : Hugo Ralet

Co-production La Otra Orilla, Théâtre Centennial and Danse Danse, with the support of The Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and Conseil des Arts de Montréal.

ABOUT MOI&LESAUTRES

In this brand new piece, the charismatic dancer-choreographer Myriam Allard and the singer and

director Hedi Graja reaffirm their unique style of reinvented flamenco. Hybrid, iconoclastic and

poetic.

Performing solo, but in an ongoing dialogue with three musicians, the dancer presents a spirited

variation on the multiple ways of communicating with the other. Between solitude and fusion,

mystery and the familiar, the other offers a reflection or leaves an impression that is felt deep in

the flesh. And here the other is not only the human spirit, but also music and song.

Danse Danse – Press kit La Otra Orilla (Québec) Moi&lesAutres 3  

Flamenco subtly influences the almost cinematographic musical composition of the guitarist

Caroline Planté, who has been performing on the flamenco scene for 20 years. Like her

accomplices Hedi Graja (vocals and palmas) and Miguel Medina (percussion and palmas), she is a

strong presence onstage, physically committed to the choreography.

Updating its age-old codes and stripped of its costumes and traditional figures, this flamenco

vibrates with sincerity and depth, with the intensity of the dancer’s presence and the powerful

emotions it evokes. A much anticipated event.

MYRIAM ALLARD – CHOREOGRAPHER Sensitive to the world of music and dance from early childhood, Myriam Allard’s life changed

when she discovered flamenco. At age 21 she moved to Spain where she lived for 6 years. After

training in Seville and Madrid with the masters Manolo Marin and Ciro, she studied with such

artists as Andrés Marin, Rafaela Carrasco and Israel Galvan, which opened up new perspectives.

She made her professional debut at traditional tablaos flamencos in Spain, Japan, France and

Germany, and joined Israel Galvan’s company for the dance piece Galvanicas in 2002. Bolstered

by her european experience, she moved to Montreal in 2005 and founded La Otra Orilla with

Hedi Graja. With this company she has choreographed 7 differents productions that have toured

Canada, the Us, Latin America and the UK Myriam's dance is strong and elegant, and reflects her

relentless research and the ongoing creation of a personal style. Moi&lesAutres is the third show

of theirs to be presented by Danse Danse at the Cinquième Salle, after El12 and HomoBLABLAtus.

HEDI GRAJA – CHOREOGRAPHER A multidisciplinary artist, Hedi Graja has roots on both shores of the Mediterranean, which has had

a decisive influence on his artistic identity. After studying theatre in Paris and classical singing in

Toulouse, he had a transformative experience when he discovered flamenco, and moved to

Seville to study the art form. Impressed by the evocative power of flamenco song, it became his

preferred medium of expression. After four years in Andalusia he completed his university studies

in Paris, where he also pursued training in flamenco singing and worked as an actor with the

company Le Théâtre du Voyageur. In 2005 he moved to Montreal, where he co-founded the

company La Otra Orilla with the dancer Myriam Allard.

Danse Danse – Press kit La Otra Orilla (Québec) Moi&lesAutres 4  

CAROLINE PLANTÉ – DANCER AND MUSICAL COMPOSER Caroline began her musical training at the age of 7 by studying with her father, the guitarist 'El

Rubio', who passed on his knowledge and his love for music. She now has almost 20 years’

experience as a composer and guitarist, and has participated in the creation of new pieces and

worked as a performer in numerous productions in Canada, the US and Spain. Since 2005 she has

been musical director of the Madrid company Cruceta Flamenco, composing the music for shows

such as Otelo, En Roj, Invernadero and La Diosa Impura. Her first disc, 8 reflexiones, was released

in Madrid in 2010 and is the first album of flamenco entirely composed and performed by a

female guitarist. The recipient of several grants from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec

and the Canada Council for the Arts, Caroline Planté has been collaborating with La Otra Orilla

since the 2010 show El12.

MIGUEL MEDINA – PERCUSSIONIS AND PALMAS After studies in musical composition and classical percussion at the Manuel M. Ponce Conservatory

in Mexico, Miguel Medina worked with the Barcelona choreographer and director Ruben Segal for

three years. He has been a musical accompanist for the past nine years for contemporary dance

companies at Circuit-Est, Concordia University and the Ateliers de Danse Moderne de Montréal

(LADMMI). Miguel has also been involved in numerous musical projects in Mexico, France and

Canada, working with El Azote (contemporary pop), Juan Carranza (flamenco), Blues Gitan (gypsy

music), Sarah Renélik (Haitian roots music), Malade Mantra (world music), Compagnie de Ballet

Flamenco Arte de Espagne, Compagnie SaSaSa (contemporary flamenco), Jorge Martinez

(flamenco, world music) and La Otra Orilla (contemporary flamenco). Since 2011 he has been a

spokesman for the All Wood series of percussion instruments by Kejam, and has also directed and

edited several short films (Rhizome Films).

LA OTRA ORILLA – COMPANY Works by La Otra Orilla are recognizable for their unique and radical approach to flamenco,

reflecting an absolutely trans-disciplinary vision. Based on the collaboration between dancer and

choreographer Myriam Allard and singer-director Hedi Graja, this company embodies and

celebrates the timeless and universal appeal of flamenco. The artistic directors rely on their in-

depth knowledge of the nuances and modes of this art, acquired over many years spent in

Andalusia, to suggest a hybrid flamenco language that is modern and poetic; that explores the

traditions of this art form, all the while being firmly rooted in the present.

Danse Danse – Press kit La Otra Orilla (Québec) Moi&lesAutres 5  

PRESS QUOTES

« On en reste médusé, happé par l’énergie qui surchauffe la scène et la salle. La Otra Orilla, un nom de troupe à retenir et, si elle repasse à Montréal, se précipiter! » – La Presse, Aline Apostolska, 21 août 2014, à propos de la compagnie

“At the center is the charismatic Allard, her intensity palpable… imaginatively transformed.” – The Globe & Mail, Paula Citron, April 25, 2014, about the company

« Un gros coup de cœur : HomoBLABLAtus est un grand spectacle de flamenco renouvelé, théâtralisé (…) Chapeau bas à La Otra Orilla ! » – Radio-Canada, 2013, à propos d’HomoBLABLAtus

« La mécanique unique imaginée par la danseuse Myriam Allard et le chanteur Hedi Graja est venue happer tout le monde instantanément. Nous n'avons touché terre que 70 minutes plus tard, transportés et transformés. » – Le Soleil, 2010, à propos d’El12

This press kit consists of material provided by the company and by research conducted by the Danse Danse team.