Dance is known as an extremely fulfilling activity, although demanding: it requires dedication and a fighting spirit, comes with renunciation and injuries. Eric Legay followed three exceptional dancers from drastically different backgrounds through their career: Brahim Bouchelaghem, Marion Ballester and Allister Madin.

Pioneer of French hip-hop, which appeared in the 80’s, Brahim Bouchelaghem began his path in the streets of Roubaix. Long-time dancer for Käfig and Accrorap, he has been signing his own creations since 2004. Marion Ballester was trained in the Centre national de danse contemporaine in Angers, then worked with Philippe Decouflé on the opening and closing ceremonies of the Albertville winter Olympics in 1992. She joined Rosas, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker’s company, while also teaching and choreographing. As for the young Allister Madin, he was trained in the Opéra de Paris school and remains deeply committed to the prestigious institution, in which he works as a ballet dancer. Hip-hop, contemporary, classical – for these three prodigies, dance has always been obvious. Each in their own way, they committed to this calling with fervour and resolution.

(Myriam Bloedé)

Zahrbat is an hommage to a father lost too soon, who left Algeria for France to burn his life around gambling tables.

Born in Roubaix in 1972, Brahim Bouchelaghem discovered hip-hop in 1984. He trained and perfected his skills, then went on to acquire his first professional experiences and take part in the Battle of the Year 96. Spotted by Farid Berki, he joined the compagnie Melting Spot the same year. 

 In 1998, he joined the compagnie Käfig. The five years he spent with Mourad Merzouki offered him the opportunity to further his work as a performer and to acquire an intense initial experience as a trainer and assistant choreographer on the  project, organized as part of the Algeria Year.
 In 2004, Kader Attou invited him to recreate a role in Pourquoi pas.... This work was the starting point of a partnership and complicity, which led the compagnie Accrorap to produce Brahim Bouchelaghem's first creation, the solo “Zahrbat”. 

 In 2006, the compagnie Frank ll Louise invited him to recreate the roles for Drop it.
 In 2007, he met Carolyn Carlson, who decided to back his choreographic work and qualified him as a poet.
The same year, he founded the compagnie Zahrbat which benefited from the companionship of the Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais National Choreographic Centre. He pursued his collaboration with Accrorap, through Kader Attou's creation Petites Histoires.com.

In 2008, he created El Firak and in January 2009, a new solo “What Did You Say? in partnership with Carolyn Carlson. In 2009, whilst on tour with Zahrbat in Saint Petersburg, he met a crew of hip-hop dancers, TOP 9, with whom he initiated a creative project “Davaï Davaï...”, performed for the first time on 11 July 2010.

In 2011, he became an associated artist at the CCN Roubaix as part of the Red Brick project. He joined the creative team for we were horses by Carolyn Carlson and Bartabas. In January 2012, he created a short piece for the Dancewindows programme, Tracks, using jazz music.
In 2012, he created Hiya (her), a piece about women, and more particularly in homage to his mother, in June 2012, for the Montpellier Dance Festival, for 3 dancers and some participation from him.
In 2013, he set up his company at Studio 28, 28 rue des Champs in Roubaix, in partnership with the Town of Roubaix ; workshops and regular classes will soon be organised there.
He also participated in Melissa Ellberger's creation in The Hague in February 2013.

Sources : Maison de la Danse show program ; Zahrbat Cie 's website

More information : zahrbat.com