Child of globalization, but also of the desire to meet others by exchanging knowledge in a dialogue between body techniques and cultural origins, linguistic métissage marks many works related to contemporary dance. The performance proposed by the company Difé Kako together with the group Le Miroir des Songes is an immediate example of this, starting with the title: Divers-Cités Féminines, a play on words that highlights the comparison between diversity of places, expressive qualities, and feminine languages. Conceived in tandem by Sabine Novel, singer and founder of Le Miroir des Songes, a group focused on the intersection of baroque and contemporary dance, and Chantal Loïal, director of Difé Kako, a company that works on the mélange of African and Caribbean dances, whose name means "something that warms" in Creole.
The performance revolves around the relationships created between the performers, who are also co-authors of the choreography. There are four of them, and they met while working in the Montalvo/Hervieu company. They have quite contrasting backgrounds: Chantal Loïal is an Afro-Caribbean dancer, Mélanie Lomoff, who has experience with Platel's Ballets C. de la B., mixes classical and contemporary dance, Sabine Novel focuses on the connections between baroque and modernity, and Claire Joubert presents herself as an acrobat and contortionist. All of this is blended with percussion and balafon. Highly acclaimed in France, the show has been described as an ode to femininity.
Difé Kako is also present in Rovereto with two street events: Défilé and Bal. The first is a festive parade that will traverse the city, featuring the dancers and musicians of the company as well as participants in the workshop that Difé Kako conducts at the Festival. It is a playful event to introduce people to African and Caribbean street culture. Bal refers to traditional dance evenings in the Caribbean called Zouk, convivial events with dance, live music, and singing, to which the audience will be warmly invited to participate. It’s a fresh way to experience the call to the ancient traditions of the Caribbean, with mazurkas and quadrilles, and forays into African and Brazilian dances, offering another invitation to connect.
