Making Men is a co-creation of an Afro-contemporary dance performance. It focusses on the theme of gender and more specifically on masculinity : its evolution and its impact on our society, especially on young men. It is the co-creation of a choreographic language based on diverse artistic and cultural ideas.
The work focusses on a group of individuals in the process of becoming men. Are they free to choose to do so in any way they deem appropriate, or are they forced into a mould ? They proceed unquestioningly, as is expected, into manhood through various stages of their lives, adopting the clearly coded characteristics allowed by society.
However, a feeling of unease, in the very depths of their being, oppresses them. It’s as if they have donned ill-fitting garments made for someone else. They feel uncertainty and something else, harder to define…
They attempt to understand, question and express their doubts. They try to break free of invisible chains, to find their true selves. The choreography seeks to highlight the limits of the male stereotype for those who seek to experience the full range of human emotions.
Making Men is a project that involves creating a 4 scene dance film. Each one will show a different stage in the process of becoming a man.
Making Men is also a piece of choreography created during the preparation of the film. The dance work is also presented in 4 sections equivalent to those in the film.
Each performance includes a short exposé on some aspect of masculinity to precede the film and the dance piece, with a view to fostering a debate on what we consider to be an important issue in today’s society.
8 & 9.02.2019
Cineteatro D. João V, Amadora Lisbon, Portugal
15.02.2019 - 8:30 PM
Centre Culturel Ottignies-LLN, Belgium
Tickets : www.poleculturel.be
23.02.2019 - 8:00 PM
Centre Culturel Waterloo, Belgium
Tickets : www.centre-culturel-waterloo.be
28.02 & 01.03.2019 - 8:00 PM
Espace Magh, Brussels, Belgium
Tickets : www.espacemagh.be
Compagnie Dunia Dance : created in Brussels by the Sierra Leonean choreographer Harold George, Dunia Dance aims to integrate an African-inspired aesthetic into contemporary dance theatre, using a multidisciplinary approach. Dunia creates shows, runs Afro contemporary dance classes and helps train African dancers.
AfriKera Arts Trust : AfriKera is an organisation based in Harare, Zimbabwe, that works in contemporary dance training. As Africalia’s partner, AfriKera also runs the AfriKera Dance Theatre, a dance company bringing together dancers who have taken their training programme ; two of these will be involved in the creation of Making Men.
Mijim : Mijim is a video production and graphic design/web design studio. Mijim has produced a large number of videos for businesses, as well as for plays and dance performances (such as Dunia Dance’s Théâtrez-moi ! and Push Pull).
Concept, writing & creation : Harold George & Antoine Panier
Artistic advice : Vincent Kuentz
Dance : Harold George, Jipé Lukusa-Kankonda, Souleymane Sanogo, Tinashe Jeri, Tatenda Chabarwa, Peter Lenso, Carlton Zhanelo
Production : Compagnie Dunia Dance, Afrikera Arts Trust, Mijim
In partnership with : Africalia & Espace Magh
This project is one of the laureates of the Africalia’s 2018 call for proposals.
