g r oo v e

g r oo v e is a solo performance by Soa Ratsifandrihana that brings together images and intimate dances. Among them, the Afindrafindrao, a dance from the 19th century, typically «gasy», coming from the red island where Soa comes from: Madagascar. She also sketches a few steps of Madison, the first choreography she learned, popularized in the 60s with Al Brown, an Afro- American singer. She also makes a nod to Pepito, a popping dancer whose stylised quarter-turns I admire... In short, g r oo v e takes the form of a collage of references quoted and then trans- formed. The choreographic challenge here is to assemble and articulate them skillfully, to the benefit of an energy that progresses throughout the piece.

Photo: © Lara Gasparotto