Aakash Odedra Company
#JeSuis
(I am)
NORTH AMERICAN TOURING Feb/March 2020
Performed by seven dancers from Turkey, #JeSuis won the AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARD at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 (performed at Zoo Venues) while still in its creation period. Following the world premiere at NYU Abu Dhabi in February 2018, #JeSuis made its European debut at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
“the feral quality of the choreography and the mastery of the dancing match the intensity of its subject.” Writing about Dance
Notions of oppression are not specific to any time, country or religion. Sometimes the oppressor is a political figure, sometimes a culture or sometimes a friend; and sometimes, of course, it is inside us: our fear, cowardice, expectation and doubt.
#JeSuis began as a conversation with these extraordinary dancers about what it is like to be living in Turkey right now, but quickly began to occupy a much more universal landscape.
The piece explores oppression in all its guises, layers, and contexts. It acknowledges that some acts of oppression are more loudly heard and deeply felt than others. While #JeSuisCharlie brought solidarity, comfort and solace to a world grieving the horrific attacks in Paris 2015, other equally appalling attacks took place in Kabul and Istanbul; but failed to capture the attention of (social) media in quite the same way.
#JeSuis is dedicated to all the people whose stories and plights have not yet been “hashtagged”, left untold. Erased from the past, unowned in the present and vulnerable in the future. Whether they are in prison, in a refugee camp, or a house with closed curtains, and whether it’s their freedom of movement, speech, religion or liberty that is at stake, or their right to marry, love, study and protest – we make this show in honour and support of them. It comes from the belief that the strength of the collective, and our ability to speak out and together will see us through to brighter times.
In English #JeSuis translates to I Am, but the show also says I Exist, I Matter.
Upcoming performances:
7th/8th November – Lilia Baylis, Sadler’s Wells, London
12th November – Salle Mercure Pierre, Montreal, off-CINARS
17th November – The Arts Depot, Finchley, London
20th November – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
24th November – Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales
26th November – The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester
Concept, Direction, Choreography: Aakash Odedra
Composer: Nicki Wells
Dramaturg: Lou Cope
Lighting Designer: Alessandro Barbieri
Production Manager: Salvatore Scollo
Set and Costumes: Ryan Dawson Laight
Movement & Rehearsal Director: Konstandina Efthymiadou
Created and Performed by:
MELISSA UGOLINI
SU GUZEY
BERIL SENOZ
GIZEM AKSU
YASIN ANAR
EVRIM AKYAY
TANER GUNGOR
Producer: Anand Bhatt
Coordination: Michelle Osorio
Production Images: Sean Goldthorpe
A special thanks to Bill Bragin, Alana Barraj, Chris Pye, Fiona Allan, Chris Sudworth, Anu Giri, Gregory Nash, David Hill, Pelin Basaran, Matt Fenton, Chris Stafford, Suba Das, Nikolai Foster, Theresa Beattie, Eva Martinez, Eckhard Thiemann, Debra Levine, David Massingham, Lucie Mirkova, Kami Manns, Toby Norman Wright and Laura Evans
Generously supported through Lottery Funding by Arts Council England
Co-commissioning partners:
The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi; WORLD PREMIERE, 7th-9th February 2018
Paradise is Here, Switzerland;
Journeys Festival International (ArtReach), UK;
Commissioned by The Movement -a partnership between Birmingham Hippodrome, Sadler’s Wells and The Lowry;
Curve Theatre (Leicester) UK;
Contact Theatre (Manchester) UK;
Research and Development Supported by the British Council in Turkey and DanceXchange (UK)
Kafkas Track: “Deeper” written and performed by The Soft Moon permission courtesy of Captured Tracks and Low Profile NYC
Voice: Charlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator © Roy Export SAS
Voice: Mohannad Al Bakri
Additional voice: Dance artists
Additional Vocals: Zain Awad
Oud recording: Fady Fareed
PRESS – Martha Oakes
Martha Oakes PR
martha@marthaoakespr.co.uk
+44 20 8854 5460
Anand Bhatt – Producer
Aakash Odedra Company
anand@aakashodedra.com
+44 7957148150
TRAILER: https://youtu.be/oj7_QKGPs4I
Flier: Click for PDF