Á mon père, une dernière danse et un premier baiser

A magic tribute to the relationship between father and son.

“El Meddeb increasingly develops a writing that combines sophistication and power”  (Danser Canal Historique)

Eight years ago the father of the Tunesian dancer and choreographer Radhouane El Meddeb died unexpectedly, without farewell. With the solo A mon père, une dernière danse et un premier baiser  El Meddeb hopes to still enforce this farewell and find a way to remain in contact with his father.

Inspired by the Goldberg variations by Johann Sebastian Bach and the pioneering choreography Steve Paxton made on them in 1986, El Meddeb dances his way through the unanswered questions and the desire to tell his father about the Tunesian revolution and the Arab Spring, the threat of extremism and his own fears in an increasingly hard world. A mon père  is both a goodbye and a meeting. A magic tribute to the relationship between father and son.

The décor, made by Annie Tolleter, is very much influenced by the work of Malek Gnaoui, a Tunesian potter. He works primarily on the theme of 'offering' and 'sacrifice' and especially for A mon père he developed a replica of his “B.S. Dead Meat 0464”, one of his best-known ceramics.

The music in its turn is based on the above-mentioned  Goldberg variations by Bach, as they were interpreted before by Glenn Gould. Sound artist Olivier Renouf resampled them here and there into a new pattern, in which silence also plays an important role.

With A mon père Radhouane El Meddeb confirms his reputation as a many-sided and energetic choreographer.