Born in Pointe-Noire, a coastal city open to the world, the Congolese choreographer and dancer DeLaVallet Bidiefono has always been eager to reach out to others. First in Brazzaville, then in Europe, his aim has been to talk about difference, diversity and living together: a personal journey that underlies several of his collective pieces (Utopia, Monstres, etc.). Today, he brings to life Kimpa Vita, a woman who, in 1704, became a committed prophetess advocating for the independence of her country, for freedom, and for all women struggling against oppression. The dancer Florence Gnarigo embodies this martyr, who was arrested, tried for heresy and burned at the stake. In the text written by the author, director and actor Dieudonné Niangouna, who has worked with the choreographer for a long time, Kimpa Vita moves across a battlefield, her steps gradually becoming more assertive and self-assured as the sandy ground becomes littered with glowing embers. Her battle armour is woven before our eyes. The music of Benoît Lugué and the voice of Malagasy vocalist Dina Mialinelina accompany her and carry her along. Organic dance, precise gestures and the strength of words give the piece a remarkably intense evocative power.
In corealisation with Théâtre Joliette
