A Benguer (The Other Place) is perhaps one of the festival’s performances that shines a spotlight on some of the political and social issues of our time through dance and music. Created in 2006 by Serge-Aimé Coulibaly, a dancer, actor, and musician from Burkina Faso, the piece reflects his experiences. After working with the Feeren company in his homeland for eight years and performing with various European groups including Alain Platel's Les Ballets C. de la B., Coulibaly returned to Burkina Faso to develop a project about his people.
Under the banner of Faso Danse Théâtre, Serge-Aimé Coulibaly and a group of dancers, singers, and musicians explore the reality of African youth in their often utopian and dramatic relationship with Europe, referred to as “the other place” or "A Benguer," which translates to “the other side” in West African contexts and alludes to our continent.
The performance, which has received public acclaim including support from Alain Platel, addresses themes of immigration, the political reality in Burkina Faso, the hope for a better future at the cost of exile, and the challenges of starting a new life in the West. It features a multi-environmental stage and a dance characterized by its poetic and powerful physicality, engaging directly with the music, voices, and singing. The piece blends rap with traditional African instruments like the kora, calabash, and mouth bow, capturing the rage and disappointment of urban poverty, while also conveying a sense of energy, defiance, and a demand for change. It showcases the creative vitality of a continent increasingly influential in the artistic sphere.
www.fasodansetheatre.com
