Rachid Ouramdane / CCN de Grenoble

The most famous chain reaction in art history, Fischli/Weiß’s film »The Way Things Go« now has its dance-world equivalent, featuring a thrilling snowball effect with 15 dancers.

Rachid Ouramdane is, along with Olivier Dubois, among the French choreographers who create powerful and expressive works for large ensembles and stages with conceptual rigor. With TENIR LE TEMPS, Ouramdane has created an impressive work about the relationship between the individual and society in times of crisis: 15 dancers are placed in a choreographed system of rhythmic movements and domino effects, though they find moments of touching individuality within it. As in Fischli/Weiß’s legendary film, »The Way Things Go,« where a chain reaction becomes a tension-filled reflection of good and evil, dependence and freedom, rule of law and chaos, Ouramdane creates an image rich and fast-paced meditation about existential power relations. From his earlier works on, Rachid Ouramdane always saw dance as political and opened its forms to other media. For ten years, he and his Compagnie L’A. have worked on pieces about the consequences of violence or about his background as the French son of Algerian immigrants. He has created various community projects and integrative pieces, and has also incorporated film, art, literature and music as key elements in his work.

Audience discussion on Thu 25th August