Welcome to our October newsletter !
Hello everyone,
Autumn promises to be full of exciting events and projects for the Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund! This month, we present the interview with Philippe Almeida, choreographer and dancer, who, along with 6 colleagues, is behind the Artizans project; as well as the national tour of the MxM Collective. Join us in this new edition of the newsletter as we explore meetings, artistic creations, and discoveries.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: PHILIPPE ALMEIDA FOR ARTIZANS
Philippe Almeida, also known as Physs, is an artist, performer, and choreographer with the Mouvmatik company, who, along with 6 other dancer-artists, initiated the project Artizans, the dance of hip-hop legends. As the first performance, scheduled for October 11th at the Visages du Monde space in Cergy, approaches, he granted us an exclusive interview to share his journey, vision, and ambitions for this unique project.
The choreographic piece 'Artizans' brings together seven iconic dancers from the 1990s Hip Hop and House Battle generation to celebrate the memory, transmission, and excellence of French Hip Hop. Physs, performer and choreographer, reflects on the origins of the project:
How did the idea of bringing together 7 dancers for a choreographic piece come to you?
“The idea came quite simply, as the seven dancers have known each other for over twenty years. We met in various situations, whether in clubs, battles, or through projects and groups we shared. For quite some time, we had wanted to come together and work on a common project. The idea took shape from the desire to reunite and create together.”
How did you choose the 7 dancers and the 2 DJs? What criteria guided the selection?
Physs: “There wasn't a casting process in the traditional sense, as we already knew each other. We all carry a history, experience, and expertise. Among us, there are artists, organizers, competitors, choreographers, and music enthusiasts. Two of them, Didier Firmin and Hugues Bongo, have even made their passion a primary activity alongside dance: they are DJs. So, the selection happened naturally. These passions already existed within these dancers. By bringing the 7 of us together, we also gathered a set of skills. It's also a matter of generation and shared history that accelerated the process of being together. After having done so much over the past twenty years, especially once you’re past 40, it's about figuring out how we continue to exist and make our work resonate more honestly and originally.
This means bringing together very specific geographical stories, with a mapping of the Île-de-France region. Each one has a sense of belonging, even a style, and this picture is very important because it represents a connection to a territory. Coming together is also about linking all these territories. We've all been to each other's places to dance, challenge each other, train, or organize an event. That's why it was important to us.”
To read the full interview with Philippe Almeida, click here.
THE MxM COLLECTIVE TOUR: On the Other Shore
The MxM Collective, known for its avant-garde stage creations, is embarking on its national tour to present its piece "On the Other Shore," freely inspired by Chekhov's Platonov.
Key dates of the tour in Paris and surrounding areas:
Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers: September 27th - October 13th, 2024
Théâtre du Rond-Point, Paris: November 8th - 16th, 2024
Points Communs, Cergy (Val d’Oise): January 15th - 17th, 2025
In parallel with the theatrical tour, the film "On the Other Shore," also directed by Cyril Teste, will be screened in several cultural venues across France, offering another perspective on this captivating work.
Screening dates in Paris and surrounding areas:
September 19th, 28th, and October 12th, 2024: Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers, Centre Dramatique National (92)
November 10th, 2024: Le Rond-Point, Paris (75)
March 29th, 2025: Théâtre Sénart, Scène Nationale (77)
We strongly encourage you to discover this fascinating piece, whether on stage or through the film, for an immersion into Chekhov's universe revisited by the talent of Cyril Teste and the MxM Collective. Find all the dates and information about the tour venues in Paris and other regions on our website by clicking here.
Visit the Agenda page on our website to stay updated with all the latest news.
To keep up with all the news from the Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter. Stay tuned for upcoming events, interviews, and exciting projects that we look forward to sharing with you.
Thank you for your continued support, and see you soon for more artistic and philanthropic adventures!
The Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund