WIPCOOP: WORK IN PROGRESS 2019

The WIP-formula, which has been an important part of Mestizo Art Platform (MAP)’s work since 2009, is a cross-pollination between about forty organisations, to fine-tune their antennae and help new urban artists find their way from the streets to the stage. At MAP’s instigation, and with a cooperative approach, the formula has blossomed into an intercity collaboration between Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels.

PROGRAMME

10:00 - 10:30 Être en soi - Awoulath Alougbin 

For her latest creation, Awoulath Alougbin started researching the way in which certain ritual dances from Benin and the urban dance style Krump are interconnected. Because Krump shows many similarities with certain ritual dances from Benin, Awoulath wanted to know and understand the basis of this dance and the atmosphere that surrounds it.

“The ritual percussion can put us in a trance; moreover, with its power and elegance, Krump succeeds in expanding our consciousness in multiple ways. Through these two characteristics, we discover the poetry of the soul, some kind of second state of being.”   

Awoulath Alougbin is a dancer and a choreographer. Following her years at the National Ballet of Benin, she founded her own dance company, AA. In her performances, she combines the essence of the traditional Yoruba-dance with contemporary dance. During the Day of the Dance (27.04.2019), Awoulath presented the first phase of her working process.

11:30 - 12:00 The chance to find yourself - Benno Steinegger & Francisco Luzemo (collab. Jovial Mbenga)

 “I don’t like work – no man does – but I like what is in the work – the chance to find yourself. Your own reality – for yourself not for others – what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means.” Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

Two theatre makers who moved to Brussels hoping to improve their work and life circumstances, who don't know each other, who come from different cultural and economic backgrounds and have different aesthetic practices, both try to get to know more about each other, about themselves and their artistic practices. From their own frames of reference, they work together on the development of a joint performance, a free adaptation of the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

14:00 - 14:30 Monstrare et/ou Monere - Milo Slayers 

This solo is a presentation of a fictional monster that passes through different phases of monstrosity, while multiple perspectives are simultaneously disclosed to the viewer.

Milo Slayers is a master student of Arts and Choreography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Company Slayers is his collective, where they experiment with research of physical urban practices. Milo also delves into other artistic practices such as video, photography, music… in order to expand his own dance practice.

15:30 - 16:00 Project Kifesh - Oumar Diallo & Djimi Kahunda

Kifesh is about the unique bond between Oumar and Djimi, a love of brotherhood and friendship between two men and how they perceive the world. A shared history, the account of an intimate friendship of two young people from the African diaspora, who grew up in Brussels.

Oumar Dialo and Djimi Kahunda are two freestyle dancers from the urban scene. Both have danced and delevoped their artistic practices for several years. They both worked with the choreographer Cindy Claes, on projects such as 1000 Pieces Puzzle, Puzzel B and C’est La procédure, where they explored new horizons in dance. In 2017, Oumar obtained a residence in Zinnema to develop his project CreativBoil. Project Kifesh is their first creation as choreographers and dancers.

17:00 - 17:30 B**** ( read: BITCH) - Yipoon Chiem

The Brussels artist Yiphoon Chiem combines influences from Martial Arts (Kung - Fu), classical Khmer dance, hiphop and breakdance into a highly personal style. Bitch is a solo that explores the shady side of the self. A walk through different phases of life and the world in between them: life, death, the realm of spirits and rebirth. 

B**** is an hommage to the archetype of the Woman with multiple powers, and a journey through the history of wounded women, tortured and disowned mothers. A solo in striptease-mode, a revealing of the masks that we’re wearing.