In 2002, as part of Le Vif du Sujet – an event initiated by the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD: Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers) to allow dancers to commission a solo from a choreographer of their choice –, Rachid Ouramdane, a dancer, performer and choreographer himself, called on one of his creative accomplices, Christian Rizzo, an awesome all-rounder who was also his interpreter. With a background in plastic arts before coming to the music (rock) scene, followed by dance and performance, Rizzo combines with his various stage practices the conception of “objects” or installations and the creation of costumes. Yet, while he cultivates multi-disciplinarity, one issue is at the core of all his works: the body and its transformations… through to that final transformation that is death and disappearance. Thus, in Skull*Cult, Ouramdane appears from behind, clothed, booted, gloved, helmeted, hooded in black, that is under the envelope – that we suspect disembodied – of a biker. From one side to another of a bare stage, bent over in the distance like a wave, he carries out a slow and uncertain crossing that is also a crossing of appearances, a rite of passage. In 2005, the two artists returned to this tragic figure – Rizzo in Comme crâne, comme culte and Ouramdane in Les Morts pudiques, his new interpretation of Le Jeune Homme et la Mort.

Source : Myriam Bloedé

Christian Rizzo was born in 1965 in Cannes. His artistic career began in Toulouse, where he started a rock band and designed a line of clothing, after which he studied fine arts at the Villa d'Arson in Nice, then unexpectedly branched out into dance.

In the 90s he performed with a number of contemporary choreographers including mathilde monnier, herve robbe, mark tompkins and georges appaix, and sometimes created soundtracks and costumes for them as well.

He also worked with choreographers with a different artistic approach, such as vera mantero, catherine contour, emmanuelle huynh and rachid ouramdane.

In 1996 he founded l'association fragile and began presenting events, dancing objects, solos and group pieces, as well as various projects and commissioned work in fashion and the visual arts.

Since then, over thirty projects have borne fruit, not counting his pedagogical activities. Christian rizzo teaches on a regular basis in art schools in France and abroad, as well as in establishments devoted to contemporary dance.

On January 1st, 2015, Christian Rizzo takes the lead of the National Choreographic Center of Montpellier. Now called ICI (International Choreographic Institute), the CCN offers a transversal vision of creation, training, artistic education and openness to the public.

Source : Website of ICI, CCN of Montpellier

More information :

http://ici-ccn.com/

http://www.lassociationfragile.com/

Le Vif du sujet is a contemporary dance event of the Festival d'Avignon. Each year, a choreographer chooses four dancers who, in turn, will each ask a choreographer to create a work lasting roughly 30 minutes. These shows are filmed in full.

Source : Culture Ministery