[Folk dances from Alsace]  

Danses d’ici is an original choreographic programme consisting of the following dances: De Buechleklopfer, Sarabande, Branle des Bergers, Polka des conscrits, Valse de Munster, Hicht oder Hot, Allemande à Quatre, Es Rappalt of de Bruke, Pas de Berstett, La Souffel déborde. 

The group
Created near on forty years ago near Strasbourg, the formation D’Kochloeffel groups ninety members passionate about traditional dances, often accompanied by live music and taking the historical quality of their costumes very seriously. Some thirty of them are involved in the project of the “Danse en amateur et repertoire” meeting.
For the past four years, D’Kochloeffel has been changing to offer a more modern, innovative and approachable image of its activities, seeing that Alsace folklore is often feared as something weighty and closed with its circles where the dancers turn their backs to the public. However, at the same time the group is careful to respect the sincerity of its members’ commitment, and ensure a community sharing that must be preserved from overly radical conflicts. 

Folk dances from Alsace
Drawn from the ethnic heritage of a region with a turbulent history, the subject of complex reformulations, often far more recent than we think, these dances are an astonishing example of a restored memory. While their steps are not varied (walks, jumps, change of foot, swaying, gavotte, waltz, polka, scottish and mazurka steps) and are danced most often in pairs in circles, they lend themselves merrily, led by Jean-Luc Neth, a recognised specialist of costume and its historical and geographical variations, to a dynamic of re-invention that continually renews their modes of representation. 

The artist
Twenty-six dancers from D’Kochloeffel, accompanied by musicians, are joined, for this “Danse en amateur et repertoire” project, by Louis Ziegler, a contemporary choreographer based in the region, in turn an amateur of traditional steps. He wished to take time to experience a patient immersive approach within the group, convinced that the community and convivial dimension of its practices must not be disrupted. His contribution consists of choreographic insights derived from contemporary dance practices, allowing him to offer suggestions and advice in terms of apprehending space, composition of figures, and rhythmic organisation, with a view to the renewal sought for with regard to the more traditional codified usages.

From live stage images to life in images, the  director and video artist Karim Zeriahen seems to have found the  shortest way. Since the beginning of the 90s, when he worked in close  relationship with choreographer Philippe Decouflé, he learned how to put  the art of stage in motion, contemporary dance most of the time. Karim  Zeriahen then starts a fruitful collaboration with Montpellier based  choreographer Mathilde Monnier. Stop, Videlilah, day of night, short  films adapted from her stage creations. Each time, Karim Zeriahen's   camera takes over the place with movement, the body language is not  frozen but magnified. Choreographer Herman Diephuis also joins this  gallery of dancing portraits. Documentaries on figures such like Albert  Maysles or Hubert de Givenchy and from Joe Dalessandro to Paul  Morrissey, he sets a signature, a camera always in action with  confidence.

Today the director goes further with a new  project and tracks the subtle movements of the body language beyond the  physical appearance. A collection of living portraits as unique pièces  reminding us of the master portraitists of renaissance. These living  natures consists in filming the subject in a certain amount of time,  almost still, with signs of respiration, eye blinks, as if it were  posing for a painting. They are then displayed on a flat screen with a  memory card. With this collection starting, Karim Zeriahen, with his  documentary and artist vision, interrogates himself about the virtual  world filled with images. By taking a pause, and his models with him, he  questions the way we look at things, the way we look at life.

Source: Philippe Noisette 

En savoir plus: www.karimzeriahen.com

Amateur Dance and Repertory is a companion program to amateur practice beyond the dance class and the technical learning phase. Intended for groups of amateur dancers, it opens a space of sharing for those who wish to deepen a practice and a knowledge of the dance in relation to its history.

Laurent Barré
Head of Research and Choreographic Directories
Anne-Christine Waibel
Research Assistant and Choreographic Directories
+33 (0)1 41 83 43 96
danse-amateur-repertoire@cnd.fr

Source: CN D

More information: https://www.cnd.fr/en/page/323-danse-en-amateur-et-repertoire-grant-programme