Nacera Belaza

2017 - 2018

In her work, Algerian Nacera Belaza searches for that fine line between spirituality and pleasure, minimalism and sensuality. Her choreographies are a fusion of internal reflection and constructed images. For ICK, Belaza will create one of the seven choreographies in 7EVEN.

At the age of five, Belaza moves from Algeria to France where she studies literature and French poetry, before dedicating herself to dance. Over the past 20 years she’s performed at some of Europe’s most prestigious dance festivals. In 1989, Belaza founds her own dance company; ‘Companie Nacera Belaza’. Her latest work includes Le Cri (2008), Les Sentinelles and Le Temps Scellé (2010), and Le Trait (2012). Today, Belaza lives and works in both Paris and Algiers.

Trailer ZIEL | ROUH

ZIEL | ROUH (trailer) from ICK on Vimeo.

★★★★ Volkskrant
"Deze dansers en musici laten een feilloze beeltenis zien van de menselijke ziel"

In ZIEL (Soul) or ROUH (Arabic for ‘soul’) two vastly different disciplines confront each other: music from Al-Andalus and contemporary dance clash, grate, seek and (may) find one another in this performance. Two disciplines, two civilizations, two frames of mind, two traditions; all of this adds up to something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

One evening, three currents/trends
The Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest (AAO) plays a musical repertoire originating from Al-Andalus. This Arabic empire extended all over the Iberian peninsula and northern Africa from the 8^th up until the 15^th century. The musicians whom developed this style in Andalusia were mainly descendants from communities that had fled the Middle-East. They managed to construct a sophisticated culture by mirroring the cultural developments and renovations occurring in their native countries.

ZIEL is a triptych in which three choreographers each work with a different trend from the Andalusian repertoire: the tarab (classical), sufi andalusi (mystical and spiritual) and the chaabi andalusi (contemporary folk music). Guest composer Abderrahim Semlali will create a piece for the chaabi andalusi, created especially for ZIEL.

Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest
The Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest is a symbol of the musical heritage of Andalusia. Between the 9^th and 15^th century this part of Europe thrived in the fields of music, literature and science. Present day, the AAO tells the story of Al-Andalus and the significance to our society through music, theatre, literature and education.

Emio Greco | Pieter C. Scholten
Both choreographers have a long history of experimenting with the relation between dance and music. They never aim for a fusion but cherish the autonomy of each separate form of art so these can reinforce one another.

Nacera Belaza
Nacera Belaza has created multiple choreographies that have been inspired by the sufi-culture. In her pieces Le Trait and Le Temps Scellé she explores the relation between traditional forms of Algerian dance, holy rituals and her own movement idiom. For ICK, she has also created one of the pieces for 7EVEN.

Vincent Colomes
In 1995, Vincent Colomes graduated from the ‘Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris’ with a specialization in ballet. He started dancing with ICK in 2006. After he left the company as a dancer in 2013, he still remained involved with ICK as a teacher and rehearsal director. Over the past few years he has started to delve into the discipline of flamenco. He now creates choreographies on the cutting edge of contemporary dance and flamenco.

première: 10-02-2018, theater Meervaart, Amsterdam

Trailer 7EVEN

In seven short pieces, seven cutting edge choreographers - with the collaboration of dancers from ICK and Ballet National de Marseille - show the audience what fascinates them and moves them as creators of dance. A performance, not unlike a laboratory, using the body as the main source of inspiration and strength. Raw to stylized, political, technological, minimalistic or expressive: 7EVEN displays the diversity of contemporary dance. The seven dancers of ICK and Ballet National de Marseille will rise to the challenge in order to capture the essence of each choreographer in every single piece.

“Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten have left their mark on the Dutch contemporary dance scene, so it is a nice experience to witness which choreographers of the next generation they decide to move to the forefront. ” – De Volkskrant

Videogame #1
Eric Minh Cuong Castaing is an associate artist at Ballet National de Marseille. The focus of this choreographic research is the augmented body: new technologies that become so embedded in everyday life, they become ‘extensions of the body’.

Humain
Algerian Nacera Belaza moved to France at the age of five, where she studied literature and French poetry before dedicating herself to dance. In her work, she searches for that fine line between spirituality and pleasure, minimalism and sensuality.

Desired Constellation
Joeri Dubbe started his career as a dancer with the Nationale Ballet and the Nederlands Danstheater. Since 2008, he started working as a choreographer. In his work, he often is inspired by the archetypes from the commedia dell’arte in order to create odd worlds of fantasy during his performances.

Borrowed Time
Canadian-Polish choreographer and performer Ula Sickle searches for ways to create choreography in which the cultural codes and political strength of popular dance styles float to the surface, or in which the musicality or the material being of the body play an important part.

La Tribu
Ayelen Parolin was born in Argentina, but currently lives and works in Brussels. Her performances are like current day rituals, in which the natural power of the body wells up.

Arad, Kim, Tycho & I
The work of Congolese choreographer Faustin Linyekula questions the postcolonial plight and violence. Dance becomes an instrument that collects testimonies and uses this knowledge to create.

Escape in 49
Israeli-Dutch choreographer Amos Ben-Tal creates multidisciplinary performances, events and installations and is well-known for his ‘out of the box’ approach.

première: 23-06-2017, Festival de Marseille, Marseille

Interview

Nacera Belaza over ZIEL | ROUH from ICK on Vimeo.