KONGO BA TÉRIA / TCHÉ TCHÉ (Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso)
"Nagtaba - Fusion"

German Premiere

The cooperation between these two groups is a sensation in itself. On the one hand, four female dancers around Beatrice Kombé from Côte d'Ivoire with a programme of works tackling key current issues such as violence against women, and on the other hand Souleymane Badolo's group of three male dancers from Burkina Faso engaged in traditional myths, processing slavery and its legacy. Different countries, different genders, different dance styles, but one shared vision - Nagtaba (Fusion). Nagtaba represents the wish for unity across all African nations, growing together at a point beyond the dramatic struggles of identity and ethnicity. Marked by the absence of heavy-handed statements, their joint ballet engagé effectively conveys its message solely through grace and vitality.

"Tché Tché", founded by performer and choreographer Beatrice Kombé, are one of the leading radical contemporary African dance groups advocating a break with the traditional African dance aesthetic. The fast and spectacular language of their dance derives from African forms of movement but has abstracted and modulated them to express the content and experience of modern urban societies. Souleymane Badolo, founder of "Kongo Ba Téria", also has a similar status as a dancer and choreographer in the young African dance scene. His work at the interface of traditional values and international developments has helped completely re-state contemporary African culture's image. Over the past few years, both groups have won numerous awards at festivals ranging from EXPO Hannover to the Festival Nouvelles Danses in Montreal, Canada.

Nagtaba
Tché Tché: Choreography and dance: Béatrice Kombé
Dancers: Nadia Beugre, Nina Rosilyne Kipre,
Zou Zou, Annich Monneroh
Music: Baba Gallé Kante

Kongo Ba Téria: Choreography and dance: Souleymane Badolo
Dancers: Fernand Bienvenue Bazie, Lacina Coulibaly
Music: Timbiri Winsi

Béatrice Kombé, born in 1972 in the Ivory Coast, received her training as a dancer from her father. She created her first choreography in 1997, "Le Kasso", and in the same year she founded Tché Tché (Eagle). Since then, she has developed four works for the group.
Souleymane Badolo, born in Ouagadougou/Burkina Faso, trained with Alphonse Tierou, and worked with a wide variety of dancers, including Elsa Wolliaston, Mathilde Monnier and the Burkina Faso National Dance Ensemble. He has choreographed 5 pieces of his own.
http://www.tchetche.afrikart.net/compagnie.htm