Batailles nocturnes

Johanna Rocard

September 23
September 30, 2023

RésidencesResidencies

Table of contents

Batailles nocturnes (Night Battles) is a tribute to free parties (fêtes sauvages) and resistant marginal dances, a modern ritual following in the tradition of collective floor dances to ward off evil spells.

About

Built as a project in an anachronistic dialogue between Carlo Ginzburg's eponymous text and contemporary accounts of real or dreamlike dancefloors, Batailles nocturnes becomes the common ground for free dancers of yesterday and today. Batailles nocturnes is a dancefloor, a fertile and resistant dance floor, Batailles nocturnes is a hybrid, collective, magical ritual, Batailles nocturnes, a new creation, sits at the intersection of choreographic performance, experimental concert, and sound documentary, all articulated through a reflection on the role of marginal dances in times of crisis (techno clubs, wild parties in urban and rural peripheries, parties in ZAD (zones to defend) ) and the survival of pre-capitalist rituals to ward off evil spells. While the Night Battles project is still in development, on September 30, 2023, at L'Aire Libre, as part of the weekend LIVING ONES, THE DANCE OF THE ARDENT, the artist presented a hybrid format resulting from these first phases of work; THE DANCE OF THE ARDENT combines floor dances, somatic practices, gestures of struggle, resistant literature, and the empowering force of music. In the tradition of cathartic dances, performers lead the dance, accompanying participants in a festive and timeless ritual. A cloakroom is available.

artistic direction :
-- Johanna Rocard

mix :
-- Amandine Braud

costumes :
-- Johanna Rocard

texts :
Johanna Rocard / Amandine Braud

choreography :
-- Nina Berclaz and associated participants

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