CIE CHATHA – BAL CLANDESTIN

“In a free society where everybody can become what he or she wants, is it still possible to belong to multiple communities of interest, is it still possible to be what we really are ?” This is the question raised by Hafis Dhaou and Aïcha M’Barek in Bal Clandestin (Illegal or forbidden ball). Both choreographers asked seven dancers and two musicians to build a brand new world. They have chosen clandestinity because it permits to each of us to get free from our own prejudices or prerequisites, to invent ourselves again, to go through the film of our own life again, to accept our most intimate parts in order to blend them with the collective ones. This is a universe where anything is possible, where we remain anonymous, at the moment when anything can become an event, trough social network, in an endless whirlwind. This is a space where we can live together our new experiences, those from “before” and those from “after”, just like in an unplanned rave party. Thus, Bal clandestin reveals our vital need for celebrations, improvised parties. It is a breath of freedom.

Play review by Agnès Izrine for the 2024-25 season brochure of Espace Des Arts.


CAST

Concept, choreography, staging, set design : Aïcha M’Barek & Hafiz Dhaou
Performers : Johanna Monadonnet, Stéphanie Pignion, Sakiko Oishi, Fabio Dolce, Aristide Desfrères, Bastien Roux et Hafiz Dhaou
Lighting design : Xavier Lazarini / Jacques Henri Bidermann
Sound design : Hafiz Dhaou
Music and mix : Mehdi Ahmadi Aka Cali Kula & Heythem Achour aka Ogra
Sound : Christophe Zurfluh
Costumes : Aïcha M’Barek
Photography : Blandine Soulage
Video : Fabien Plasson
Production manager : Anaïs Taveau
Production : CIE CHATHA
Coproduction : Espace des Arts Scène Nationale de Chalon-sur-Saône, Maison de la danse de Lyon Pôle Européen de création- CCN Viadanse de Belfort Dir Héla Fattoumi & Eric Lamoureux dans le cadre du dispositif l’accueil studio -Studio Chatha Lyon 8e

Warm thanks to the entire team of l’Espace des Arts, the mediation and technical teams, Maison de la danse and Viadanse. Special thanks to Hèla Fattoumi & Eric Lamoureux for landing us their technical equipment and to our partners at Lyon 8, MAD’s 8th Festival edition, ViaDanse-Belfort and Chalon-sur-Saône for mobilizing participants.

Creation : 2024
Duration :
 1h30
Genre : Dance
Nationality : France

Aïcha M’Barek and Hafiz Dhaou were appointed Chevalière et Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak, in the summer of 2023. They have been associate artists at the Espace des Arts – Scène Nationale Chalon-sur-Saône, since 2020. They run the CHATHA studio, a 300m2 space in the heart of Lyon’s 8th district.

CHATHA CIE is subsidised by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication DRAC Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, the Region Auvergne Rhone-Alpes and the City of Lyon.
It receives support from the French Institute and the French Institute / City of Lyon for its projects abroad.

GALLERY

Tour

DateTimeTheaterCityTickets
April 11, 202520h30Le Cratère scène nationale d'Alès Alès (30) Book Now
May 21, 202519h30Maison de la danse de Lyon MAD Lyon (69)Book Now
May 22, 202520h30Maison de la danse de Lyon MAD Lyon (69)Book Now
January 23, 2026La rose des vents scène nationale Villeneuve-d'Ascq (59)
January 24, 2026La rose des vents scène nationale Villeneuve-d'Ascq (59)

Information request