Choreographer and artistic direction - ABOU LAGRAA
An adventure of more than 10 years
The company La Baraka was born in 1997 on the initiative of Abou Lagraa. From its first creation in 1998, the company is programmed in the Biennial event of the Dance of Lyon. And the success is immediate. The creations are quickly linked and the supports multiply, among which the Théâtre National de Chaillot, the House of the dance of Lyon, the BNP Paribas foundation … Approved by a large majority by the public and the professionals, the company occurs on the biggest stages of France but also abroad, in particular in Germany, Italy, Algeria, the USA, the Eastern Europe, Asia … She has 13 pieces in the directory today, proposes a creation by season and realize on average 90 representations a year, in France and on the international stage.
The artistic creation, the work of ground
The Company La Baraka works thanks to artistic residences which allow to multiply the meetings, the experiences, the partnerships which develop loyalty over the years. From 2004 till 2007, Abou Lagraa was an artist associated with the National stage Bonlieu of Annecy. Since 2009 and until 2013, the company La Baraka is in production residency in Sceaux, at Les Gémeaux Scène Nationale. In parallel in the work of creation, the company develops an important work of raising sensitization in the choreographic art with the general public: meetings, workshops, training courses are given during the tours in colleges, high schools, universities, faculties of architecture, French Schools of Education, … Strong and popular initiatives were born as the organization of a Box of Dance to Bonlieu (combining 3000 persons) or the presentation of conferences danced to the Musée du Louvre. These actions translate the will of the company to open an intergenerational dialogue.
The creation of the Mediterranean Cultural Bridge and the Ballet Contemporain d'Alger
Artistic director Abou Lagraa, director of instruction Nawal Aït Benalla-Lagraa
In 2008, on the initiative of Nawal Aït Benalla-Lagraa, Abou Lagraa returns in Algeria to find its roots, its past and decides to put a lot there artistically. This return becomes a reality in 2009, while it sees confiding by Mrs Khalida Toumi, Algerian Minister of Culture, the choreography of Closing ceremony of the 2nd Pan-African Festival of Algiers in July, 2009. The Company La Baraka is afterward commissioned to develop the art of the dance in Algeria. Supported also by the Algerian Agency for the Cultural Brilliance, Abou Lagraa and Nawal Aït Benalla-Lagraa - Company La Baraka create the Mediterranean Cultural Bridge in 2010 conceived as a three-year program of algéro-French cooperation. The implementation of this project allowed the creation of the Contemporary Ballet of Algiers, with poles of formation and creation allowing to encourage the exchanges of choreographic works and to support the professionalization of the Algerian dancers... The initiative leans above all on the formation (ballet, contemporary dance, yoga) with an educational program managed by Nawal Aït Benalla- Lagraa and who implies the dancers of the Company La Baraka.
The first fruit of this project is Nya, a creation of Abou Lagraa, a dyptique for nine dancers of the Contemporary Ballet of Algiers. The piece saw itself attributed in July, 2011, Grand Prix of the Criticism for the best choreography of the year and turns at present all over the world.
The projects of the Company La Baraka and of the Ballet Contemporain d'Alger
Abou Lagraa pursues this human and artistic adventure with two new pieces, which will allow a rich meeting between the dancers of the Company La Baraka and the Algerian dancers of the Contemporary Ballet of Algiers.
So in May, 2012 will be created at Les Gémeaux/ Sceaux/ Scène Nationale, Univers… l'Afrique, a piece for 8 dancers (two quartets for the dancers of the Company La Baraka and the dancers of the Contemporary Ballet of Algiers). To speak about his African roots and about the love, the choreographer chose a musical vital lead: the singer Nina Simone.
In January, 2013, El-Djoudour (The roots), at The Grand Theater de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, for the opening of Marseille Provence 2013, the European Capital of culture. This piece will combine for the first time, on stage 16 dancers (eight of the Company La Baraka and the eight of the Ballet Contemporain d'Alger). Abou Lagraa wishes to focus this creation on its own perception of " living as a Muslim " in all its original dimension of generosity, sharing and fraternity.
The creations
2010 Nya pour le Ballet Contemporain d'Alger
2010 Un Monde en Soi avec le Quatuor Debussy
2009 Cérémonie de Clôture du Festival Panafricain– Algérie.
2008 Everyone's one pour le Memphis Ballet (USA)
2008 D'Eux Sens
2007 Nawal (ou l'offrande) pour le Centre Méditerranéen de Danse Contemporaine de Tunis
2007 My Skin pour la Hochschule de Francfort
2007 Matri(K)is
2006 Le Souffle du Temps pour les étoiles (Marie- Agnès Gillot, Manuel Legris et Wilfried Romoli,) et le Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris.
2006 Le Pas Suspendu avec l'Orchestre des Pays de Savoie) “La Jeune Fille et La Mort” (Schubert) et les “Trois Tempéraments” (Hindemith) »
2006 R.B.V.B.
2005 Où Transe
2004 Cutting Flat
2003 Leïla pour l'école supérieure du Centre de Danse Contemporaine d'Angers.
2002 Allegoria Stanza
2001 Fly, Fly au CCN Ballet de Lorraine
(entrera ensuite au répertoire de l'ABC Dance Company (Saint Pölten Autriche)
2000 Nuit Blanche
2000 Passage
1999 Kraft
1998 Violatus
1998 Les 2
The medias
La Baraka d'Abou Lagraa : sur France3 Hip-Hop Fusion : dans « Musiques au Coeur » (Eve Ruggieri) sur France2
Nuit Blanche : captation diffusée sur Arte
La Danse d'Abou Lagraa : diffusée dans « Musiques au Coeur » surFrance2, Mezzo et TV5 Monde
Juré à l'émission Dancing Show sur France2 à l'été 2006
Reportages et interviews TV : dans les JT de TF1, France2, France3, Les Mots de Minuits, Paris Dernière, FranceÔ, France24…
Supports of the Company La Baraka
The company La Baraka is in production residency at Les Gémeaux/ Sceaux/ Scène Nationale from 2009 to 2013.
Supports of the « Mediterranean Cultural Bridge »: Ministère de la Culture algérien, Agence Algérienne pour le Rayonnement Culturel, BNP Paribas Foundation.
From 2012 and until 2014, the French Ministry of Culture will support the project.
The company is funded by the Ministère de la Culture – DRAC Rhône-Alpes, the Conseil Régional Rhône-Alpes, the Conseil Général du Rhône, the Ville de Lyon.
The Company La Baraka is supported by BNP Paribas Foundation.