They dance, jump, twirl from one cube or bar to another. This Saturday, no less than 250 members of the Art of Displacement (ADD), from all over the France, were in demonstration in Évry-Courcouronnes. An event organized on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville at the initiative of the Art du déplacement Academy of Evry.
This discipline was popularized in 2001 thanks to the film "Yamakasi", named after the group of friends practicing ADD and some of whom continue to teach their art in Évry-Courcouronnes. "The idea is to show their heritage. Today, the ADD is present everywhere in France with fifteen ADD Academy, which are all represented in Evry, this weekend, "says François Terrien, the director of the ADD Academy of Evry.
"We all defend the same method of teaching and pedagogy based on sharing," he continues. We are approaching 2,000 members in France, of all ages. In Evry, there are 200 of us. Classes start from the age of 4 and we have adults who are up to 50-55 years old. »
" READ ALSO Essonne Parkour: Évry-Courcouronnes inaugurates a new park dedicated to the art of displacement
This Saturday, members could train outdoors on the various obstacles set up, while an initiation was offered to children. Mattieu Glangetas, 15, embarked on the adventure three years ago. "It was a week before the lockdown," he recalls. I was doing BMX but I wanted to change sports. I saw videos on social networks, it made me want to try. I did an internship in Evry and I liked it. It was only after he started that he saw the movie "Yamakasi".
"It is a practice with mutual aid and sharing"
Since then, the teenager trains at least six hours a week during the courses given by the ADD Academy of Evry and when he has time, he trains on his own, during the holidays. "What I like is the fact that I always move and the mentality. Here, we are not judged, everyone progresses at their own pace. »
"It's a practice with mutual aid and sharing," confirms François Terrien. We do not put individuals in competition. »
For Mattieu, everyone can get started. "You don't need special qualities, you have to work and trust the coaches. When they tell us we can do it, we have to go. You have to know how to overcome this mental barrier. In two years, we can progress a lot or stagnate, until there is a click. »
On the security side, the discipline is very supervised, assures François Terrien. "It can be dangerous if it's done poorly, but we're not daredevils. We are not here to do anything. This is also why the town hall and the municipal police of Évry-Courcouronnes accept our practices. »
Because the ADD is certainly practiced in gymnasium but also, and especially, in urban areas with many spots on the city. Mattieu confirms: "We are well supervised. I was hurt more when I was BMX. »
This Sunday, the 250 members gathered for this event will meet in a gymnasium with structures, air tracks and the game of Chase Tag (cat and mouse).