Some come from Germany, others Ireland, France, Portugal and Slovenia. What they have in common is that they are Palestinians... and dancers. All from these lands of Palestine that they love so much, whether on the West Bank side or on the Israeli side, they meet at the slightest opportunity to support their small company, Stereo48.
Stereo, as a nod to the first New York break dancers who were walking around, a huge radio on the shoulder and music at the bottom; 48 in memory of Israel's invasion of part of Palestine.
Originally, Hamza, Abdallah Damra and Amir Sabra were part of a group of breakdancers practicing in Nablus. Nothing professional in this adventure, but a shared passion for this dance little used in Arab countries. Until the Belgian company C de la B looked for new dancers for its hit show, Badke, and hired them. From then on, for a year and a half, the three Palestinians traveled the world. When they return to Nablus, it's the blues.
Providential help from the French Institute of Nablus
Abdallah Damra has only one desire: to continue the experiment. Especially since during the tour, he had the good idea to ask one of the directors of the Belgian company to train him both in choreography and in the management of a troupe. The long-awaited providential help will come from the director of the French Institute in Nablus, Stéphane Aucante.
He offers them to work, train and rehearse in a room of the Institute, and even offers them their daily lunch and a first grant of 200 €! Stéphane Aucante understood the difficulty of being dancers for these young people, most of whom come from Palestinian refugee camps. "It was really taff," Abdallah admits today.
Their talent and seriousness followed: they participated in the adventure of the Pokémon Crew, then they received a commission from the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, as part of the "Danse élargie" festival, a series of short formats that allows you to discover young choreographers in the making. The shows, always refreshing, highlight how dance can be diverse, and infinitely quick to create new forms.
Questioning the essence of human relationships
Stereo 48, choreographed by Amir Sabra, opens the ball in the very heart of Montmartre: the troupe leads the audience to follow the steep slope of the rue de Ravignan, then invites them to follow it in the Théâtre des Abbesses managed by the Théâtre de la Ville. The driving force of the company is irresistible: it is that the dance is powerful, with the musical background of the Palestinian nostalgic tunes used for weddings. A mix of improvisation and more regulated interludes, this street sequence goes far beyond the entertainment and performance of hip-hop, to delicately question the essence of human relationships. For this they had the support of the patronage of the Caisse des dépôts, the Ile de France Region, after a residency at the Espace Germinal-Fosse.
After this outdoor opening, once the spectators are settled in their armchairs, the show continues – six small pieces to discover at all costs.
