Byb & Kiandanda Dance Theater Present: Ange Aoussou and Chris Babingui – Dance Africa Dance for Peace and Independence

In collaboration with the Red Poppy Art House, Byb & Kiandanda Dance Theater present Dance Africa Dance for Peace and Independence. The evening features performances by two African dancers/choreographers, Ange Aoussou from Ivory Coast and Chris Babingui from the Republic of Congo. Performing their respective solo works, J’aime le rouge and Nibo Nano, these pieces touch on the social-political issues of the African continent that is still struggling to gain true independence and development.

Born in Divo (Ivory Coast), Ange Aoussou had trained in traditional African dance, contemporary, modern and jazz. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various choreographers from around the world and has worked with Koteba D’abidjan, Institute Djolem of Abidjan, Mr Salif Coulibaly, and Souleymane Koly.

Chris Babingui was born in Enyelle in Congo. At the age of five, he learned the ndombolo and other traditional dances of Congo through the imitation of his elders. After completing his secondary education in 2006, Babingui started his artistic career dancing hip-hop as he joined the group, Boom Danger of Massamba Brunel (aka “Flash”). He has since worked and toured internationally in Africa and Europe after joining the Studio Maho, directed by choreographer Florent Mahoukou.
 
About Kiandanda Dance Theater and Artistic Director Byb Chanel Bibene:
Kiandanda is an international dance company that does work between Africa, Europe and the USA. Every year, the company holds workshops, the Nzela Program and the Rue Dance Festival, which is held every two years in the Republic of Congo. As formerly named Studio Rue Dance, Kiandanda Dance Theater is a laboratory, a studio where everyone is invited to come and contribute to create the art through conferences, performances and workshops.

Byb Chanel Bibene is a choreographer and performer working in theater and contemporary dance. His own technical and aesthetic sensibility is rooted in the culture and dances of his country of origin. He has toured and performed internationally with companies originating from Africa, England, France and the USA.

J’aime le Rouge by Ange Aoussou:
“We just celebrated 54 years of independence of the black continent. Two generations have passed. Why so many failures? African wars you took me, my body, my land, you have plunged my life in distress. All these tears and cries that fire, these falling bodies, and these extended corpses. The blood that spreads gradually, these martyrs. And the smell of death and widespread fear. Sorry. Turn the other cheek. It is able to forgive. Who hurt you. It also means knowing smile. Who made ​​you cry? Africa, you are my joy memorable although sometimes misfortune strikes, you will remain the land of freedom.”

Watch a clip here.

Nibo Nabo by Chris Babingui:
Nibo Nabo is all about a cry of revolt against the leaders of the country who rule one after the other when the conditions of living are gradually deteriorating to the level of extreme poverty. It is all about the expression of the pains and the feeling of exhaustion of a well educated but traumatized generation of Congolese youth which finds itself threatened by several ills and which feels being sacrificed by the carelessness of the government: lack of water and electricity, increase of unemployment, youth delinquency, lack of social aid.

Watch a clip here.

Admission: $15-20. Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm. All ages welcome.

Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer with us! Click here.