Sous Leurs Pieds Le Paradis: Dance Performance by Radhouane El Meddeb

Radhouane El Meddeb is a dancer and choreographer based in France. He created his first autobiographic solo Pour en finir avec MOI in 2005. Other works include among others: Hûwà, Ce lui (2006) for Montpellier Dance Festival; Quelqu’un va danser (2008) for Les Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis; Je danse et je vous en donne à bouffer (Centre National de la Danse CND, Pantin, 2008), a culinary and dance performance; and Ce que nous sommes (2010, CND), his first group performance. In 2011, following an initial phase at Babel Theatre (Beirut), El Meddeb created Chant d'amour (Collectif 12), a duo based on works by Jean Genet (Notre Dame des Fleurs and Chant d'amour). He also created A L'Etroit (CENTQUATRE, 2011) following an invitation from writer Philippe Adam and the Concordan(s)e festival; and Tunis le 14 janvier 2011 for Meeting Point 6 (2011). In 2012 he choreographed Nos Limites, a duo for circus performers (CENTQUATRE). El Meddeb is a CENTQUATRE (Paris) associated artist since 2011.



Sous leurs pieds, le paradis - Radhouane El Meddeb | Dance Performance | 55’ | 2012



“Paradise lies under the feet of your mothers”. El Meddeb takes this hadith of the Prophet Mohamed as the starting point for his latest work, a solo in choreographic collaboration with Thomas Lebrun, performed to Oum Kalthoum’s popular sung poem Al Atlal. Sous leurs pieds, le paradis is an homage to the devotion, sensuality and compassion of women, but also an analysis of El Meddeb’s own femininity. When he stages the subtle play of veiling and revealing in the pleats of the stage, new readings and perceptions of the female become visible beyond transformation or disguise: movements of revolt, a dance of change, a song for freedom.



Conception, Performance: Radhouane El Meddeb

Choreography: Thomas Lebrun, Radhouane El Meddeb

Scenography: Annie Tolleter

Sonography: Stéphane Gombert

Light: Xavier Lazarini

Technical Manager: Marie Hardy

Production, Administration: Florence Kremper

Production: La Compagnie de SOI

Co-production: Montpellier Danse 2012,le 104-centquatre (Paris), le Centre Chorégraphique National de Tours - directed by Thomas Lebrun, with support from DRAC Ile-de-France - Accueil studio : CND

Radhouane El Meddeb is CENTQUATRE associated artist.