Voodoo

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VoodooVoodoo (m.n.): Defines a cult or a divinity. But nowadays, this

word, as used by the youth of Benin, takes a different meaning, referring to something new, uncommon, something strange or

of genius.

A Beninese. A Brazilian. Likenesses / Differences.

They dance and move, but in strange motions, unusually beautiful, burdened with a history we cannot quite grasp.

Two grown ups sharing comparable childhood memories. Stupid things done and games played, but violence undergone and

weapons as well. Memories gone by and tucked away but still marking their bodies and souls still affecting their art and the

way they move.

Children screeching and laughing... a skipping rope, an elastic string, playing hopscotch or rock-paper-scissors... a school yard.

But what school? A school in Brazil? A school in Benin? Is there even a difference? With his body and his story, his similarities and his differences, each one of them tells us about his own

school and through it, eventually, about his country, his culture... his dancing... his voodoo...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABIbNPKlvcE

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Statement of intent

Benin, a small african country. Brazil, a huge latin american one. Two countries geographically wide apart, but closely linked in cult and culture through their common history of slavery.During his 2011 tour of Brazil, Marcel Gbeffa could notice for himself the similarities between the two countries. Besides, Brazilians do claim their african heritage and have a religion, voodoo, in common with Beninese people. Huge differences nevertheless remain between Beninese and Brazilian people, the latter still having a dreamlike image of Africa, ancient Africa. As the beninese choreographer figured out, one difference lays in the way people relate to their body. Indeed, liberated as the body might be thought to be on the African continent, in Brazil, it nonetheless seems exhibited, to an african observer.

This duo gathering Marcel Gbeffa and Wagner José de Faria results from an exchange regarding their way of being, their artistic experience, but also the way they live their childhoods again, particularly their confrontations with weapons. Gunmen in the favelas of Rio for the one. Wars in Congo for the other. Accepted and left behind as they may be, these memories still mark and influence the way they move, the way they are, up to their very emotions. The closeness to death and violence can no more be uncommon. Deep inside, however, a child still breathes, attempting to live joyful and carefree moments again. And if, driven by the child inside, the dancers secretly enjoy the lightness of these moments throughout the performance, their faces nevertheless remain impassive, marked as they are by their stories.

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Choreographic approach

The choreographer started from the word ‘voodoo’, as in meaning ‘new’, ‘extraordinary’, to create unusual moves, voodoo moves.During the creative process, various techniques and works of improvisation were experimented in order to find a new motion quality. Each performer bringing in his own heritage, brazilian capoeira and beninese traditional dances, they compared, mixed and dismantled, thus creating something both peculiar and naive, like a child imagining his own codes, developing his own language.

In between two continents, this creation is a first, allowing an exchange of knowledge, a dialogue of the bodies between two dancers, one from Benin, the other from Brazil. Choreographers often work with various nationalities and cultures, but the common roots shared by Benin and Brazil turn this choreographic exchange into a unique adventure.

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Steps of creation and tours

The project:

After a month of work at the Multicorps Choreographic Centre in Cotonou, Benin, a duo was created with the Beninese choreographer Marcel Gbeffa and the Brazilian dancer Wagner José de Faria who came from Rio de Janeiro specially for the occasion. This duo was the first step in the creative process which a show was to account for on december the 12th 2012 in the French Institute’s ‘Théâtre de verdure’, in Cotonou.

A second step in project creation is to follow, through a residence in Brazil in 2013. A tour will then be organised, passing through Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Campinas, João Pessoa, Belo Horizonte and Saõ Paulo, with performances and master classes in each town. Finally, the year 2014 will be dedicated to touring in Africa.

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Multicorps/Marcel Gbeffa Company

Since 2008, the Multicorps/Marcel Gbeffa Company gathers two french-beninese choreographers and professional dancers, Valérie d’Almeida and Marcel Gbeffa. It aims for training, creation and promotion of contemporary dance in Benin through various show and events as well as the passing on to amateurs (both children and grown ups) and professional dancers, its purpose being the transmission of passion and the rise of a new energy in beninese and african contemporary dance.

Most of the company’s pieces are based on improvisation and bodily expression as influenced by traditional dance from Benin and other african countries. The choreographic approach originates in simple daily life activities to end up in outstanding pieces. Experimenting with human and animal behaviour is a major source used by The Multicorps/Marcel Gbeffa Company in order to find another way of moving.

Whereas both choreographers are in charge of dance teaching and choreographic creation, Marcel Gbeffa, being the appointed company choreographer, is the artistic director and Valérie d’Almeida the executive director.

In september 2011, the Multicorps/Marcel Gbeffa Company launched the first choreographic centre in Benin, in central Cotonou. Gathering amateurs and professionals from Africa and elsewhere, this centre is designed as a place where to train, meet and share around contemporary dance.

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Company creations‘And if...’ (2008). SoloSelected in solo category at the Africa and Indian Ocean Choreographic Encounters in 2010.

‘Primal shadow’ (2009). Duo

‘The corridor of love’ (2011). Duo

‘Eyeless’ (2011). Collective piece

‘Loneliness blues’ (2011). DuoChoreographed with Maria-Luisa Angulo (Trias Culture).

‘Black Mirage’ (2012). Collective piece

‘Behind the curtain’ (2012-2013). SoloCreation in progress.

‘Voodoo’ (2012-2013). DuoCreation in progress.

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Company collaborationsMaria-Luisa ANGULO (Senegal/Salvador): Marcel Gbeffa, guest choreographer for d-CLIC Dance and Digital Arts in Africa training programs (2011-2012). Partnership around ‘Loneliness blues’ (2011 duo).

Andréya OUAMBA (Congo/Senegal): Training courses and creations. ‘Endless discussions’ (2008), ‘Good Dance’ (2009), choreographed with Reggie Wilson and ‘Shadows sweat’ (2011). Marcel Gbeffa in residence in 1e Temps/Andréya Ouamba Company’s AEx-Corps program for ‘Behind the curtain’ (2012).

Marcelline LARTIGUE (France): Training course and creation of ‘Marcel, here and now’ (May 2011, Solo).

Franceska PEDULLA (Italy): Training courses and creations. ‘First steps’ (2007), ‘Choreographic tricks to pass by the dirt highway’ (2010) and ‘Unavoidable dialogues’ (2009-2010).

La Compagnie FABRE/SENOU (France/Benin): Training courses, restitution performances and creations. ‘The body’s word’ (2008), ‘Hali Mê’ (2009).

Sarah CARLSON (USA): Training courses, restitution performances and creation. ‘The holy journey’ (2007).

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Marcel GbeffaMarcel Gbeffa discovers contemporary dance in 2001 in the beninese association ORIculture. He takes part in several workshops and training courses, including the 8th edition of Africa’s traditional and contemporary dance professional training at Germaine Acogny’s ‘Ecole des Sables’, in Senegal.

As a performer, he is involved in various creations by international choreographers such as Marcelline Lartigue, Andréya Ouamba or Reggie Wilson whom he tours and teaches with in the United States.

His choreographic abilities are detected with his solo performance ‘And if...’ (2008) selected for the solo competition at the Africa and Indian Ocean Choreographic Encounters in 2010.

Marcel Gbeffa has worked with well known pedagogues and choreographers such as Norbert Senou and Caroline Fabre (France/Benin), Germaine and Patrick Acogny (Senegal/France), Longafo Eyeoto (Congo), Nora Chipaumir (Zimbabwe/New York), Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa), Michelle Broda (France), Sarah Carlson (USA) and many others.

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Wagner José de FariaWagner José de Faria begins with urban dances at a very early age in Rio de Janeiro. He takes part in several workshops and works with different dance groups in the streets of Rio. With the support of community centres, these various experiences allow him to organise workshops and prepare choreographies for Rio’s homeless and shanty town children.

In 2005, he takes part in the french-brazilian show ‘White zone’, at the Châteauvallon CNDC near Toulon, and interventions in several french town ensue. As a dancer, he takes part in tours in Tunisia and the Netherlands. In 2007 he contributes to the choreography of the duo show ‘My Earth’ in which he also performs. He keeps participating in various competitions in Brazil and around the world, and teaching dance in several suburb schools in his home town.

In 2012, he is selected by the beninese choreographer Marcel Gbeffa to take part in ‘Voodoo’, his new creation, and thus comes to Cotonou, Benin, in residence.

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Facilities reportSTAGING

•Choreographer: Marcel Gbeffa•Performers: Marcel Gbeffa and Wagner José de Faria•Number of dancers onstage: 2•Duration: 40 min•Date of creation: 2012-2013•Audience: General public

PLANNING

Two services requested:•First service: Mounting and setting of lighting, sound, black box and dance mat•Second service: Line-up, match, warming up

SOUND

The sound control will necessarily stand next to the lights control but a separate sound dedicated power supply will be requested.

Source: Mini jack/CD player equipped lap-top (supplied by the host venue).Analog or digital audio console with at least 4 output buses. Standard venue stereo diffusion.

The company has no sound manager and therefore requests that one may be assigned to us for mounting and setting.

LIGhTING

•Light set: One programmable direct access masters console•Dimmers: 16 3kW cells•Venue lighting not included in lighting plot•Wings lighting requested

The piece creation still being in progress, the amount and type of spotlights and gelatines will be specified in due course.

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Facilities report

Notes: The host venue commits itself to hiring qualified staff with proper mastery of the equipment.The equipment will be complete, in good condition and will meet security requirements.The host venue will supply all common material and consumable items.Refreshments and fruits are requested to be made available to the team in the wings during the show.

SETTING

Scene:Italian masking with black backdrops.Light coloured dance mat.

Items to be supplied by the host venue:- Backdrops and legs requested for black box assembly.- Gray or white dance mat.

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The teamMulticorps Choreographic CentreTelephone: (+229) 96 83 08 26 / (+229) 94 47 95 89 / (+229) 21 10 20 82Mail: 01 BP 591 Cotonou, BENINWebsite: www.multicorps.orgFacebook: Compagnie Multicorps/Marcel GBEFFA

Valérie d’Almeida, Executive Director(+229) 97 77 82 22 / (+228) 90 33 13 43 (Togo)multicorpsbenin@gmail.com

Céline Bouché, Manager(+229) 97 93 09 19 / (+229) 65 17 62 83 multicorpsbenin@gmail.com

With the support of

Photo credit:© Sophie Négrier, pages 1-2-4-7-8-9-10