C la Vie is a vibrating, energetic tribute to the enormous power of togetherness. At the heart of the story is that which is most important: the connection with music, with each other, with reality, time, the planet and with loved ones. The only thing that really matters is the search for contact and the discovery of one’s place in life.

This performance is a kind of initiation rite for modern times, a state of trance that explores life and human existence. Seven dancers, a singer and a musician gather onstage to begin a journey, to perform a ritual that opens a new world. The audience is invited to witness how the old, grotesque world disappears. Clearly, no transformation is possible without acceptance of the chaotic struggle involved in leaving the familiar.

Serge Aimé Coulibaly is a dancer and choreographer from Burkina Faso, based in Belgium. He grounded the company Faso Danse Théâtre in 2002 and, since then, has toured in Africa and Europe. “In recent years my choreographies have been concerned with the search for the essence of humanity, no matter where people come from. What do we have in common?” Coulibaly has found inspiration for C la Vie in the West African trance tradition as well as in the European carnival. With this production he wants to challenge audience members to question the choices they make and to dare to ask themselves: How can I best honor the life I have been given?

C la Vie is not about filling emptiness but rather about spreading an understanding of the potential of togetherness as an antidote to our time’s apparently unstoppable death-wish. Or as the saying goes: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Concept & choreography: Serge Aimé Coulibaly
Assistant choreographer: Sigué Sayouba
Creation and performance: Jean Robert Koudogbo-Kiki, Ida Faho, Angela Rabaglio, Guilhem Chatir, Djibril Ouattara, Arsène Etaba, Bibata Maiga, Dobet Gnahoré and Yvan Talbot
Singer: Dobet Gnahoré
Music: Yvan Talbot aka Doogoo D
Dramaturgy: Sara Vanderieck
Artistic assistant: Hanna El Fakir
Lighting design: Emily Brassier
Artistic direction costumes, scenography & video: Eve Martin
Videographer: John Picard
Costume design: Mira Van den Neste
Technical coordination: Thomas Verachtert
Light technician: Hermann Coulibaly
Sound technician: Andreas De Roy
Stage manager: Dag Jennes
Production manager: Arnout André de la Porte
Distribution: Frans Brood Productions
Coproduction Charleroi danse (BE), Kampnagel Hamburg (DE), Tanz im August / HAU Hebbel am Ufer Berlin (DE), La Rampe-La Ponatière Echirolles (FR), Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (LU), Festival RomaEuropa (IT), Festival Culturescapes Basel (CH), Münchner Kammerspiele (DE), KVS- Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg Brussels (BE), Festspielhaus Sankt-Pölten (AT)

With the support of the Flemish authorities and La Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Service Général de la Création Artistique – Service de la Danse

C la vie is created with the support of the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government