Skip to main content
Back to search

Ostrich

This solo is one of the first compositions on the Western scene to amalgamate the modern dance and the African movements. Asadata Dafora, which immigrated in the United States in 1929, delivers its choreographic vision of the traditional dance to us African production with the guns of the Western dance. The dancer transforms himself into majestic, a powerful bird.

CREDITS

Creation: 1934
Choreographer: Asadata Dafora
Frontier runner: Ela Moore
Duration: 4 mn
Interpret: James Carles or Georgey Souchette or Clément Assémian
Music: traditional African percussions

Carlès, James

James Carles is a choreographer, researcher and lecturer. He received initial training in dance and music of Africa and its Diaspora and then trained with the great names of modern dance in New York and London mainly. Since 1992, he hired an artistic and analytical approach that explores the “places junctions” between the dances, rhythms and philosophies of Africa and its Diaspora with technical and western thoughts frames. To date, his company’s directory contains more than fifty pieces of his own creation and authors like Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, Talley Beatty, Asadata Dafora, Geraldine Armstrong, Rick Odums, Wayne Barbaste, Carolyn Carlson, Robyn Orlin, etc.


Dancer soloist and outstanding performer, James Carles was performer and artistic collaborator for not only numerous “all music” ranging from Baroque to contemporary music, through jazz; but also choreographers such as Carolyn Carlson, Robyn Orlin, Rui Horta, Myriam Naisy, etc.

Artist associated with Astrada- Jazz In Marciac 2012-2014, research associate in the laboratory of the University LLA Créatis Jean Jaures Toulouse, James Carles is particularly invests in heritage projects for diversity and diffusion of choreographic culture. He is also founder and artistic director of the festival “Dances and Black Continents”.

Dafora, Asadata

Asadata Dafora (1890-1965) arrived in New York in 1929 after having studied and danced for many years in Europe and in Sierra Leone, his country of birth. He began working with Africans who are associated with the National Counsel of the African Union and created Shogola Oloba, a troupe of African artists. In 1934, he created Kykunkor, a work that ushered in an innovative new genre labeled indigenous African Opera. Kykunkor tells the story of a spouse haunted by the curses of an upset lover.

Carlès, James

Since 2016, James Carlès has made the choice to make available to the public a selection of its videos.

Ostrich

Choreography : Création : 1934 - Chorégraphe : Asadata Dafora - Passeur : Ella Moore - Repris par : James Carlès

Interpretation : James Carles ou Georgey Souchette ou Clément Assémian

Additionnal music : Musique traditionnelle, percussions africaines

Our videos suggestions
05:43

100m

Szpunar, Monika (Poland)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Les 2

Lagraa, Abou (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:58

Lykion Ton Hellinidon

Drandakis, Lefteris (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:05

De Patangome na Cidade

Moreira, Rui (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

L'oiseau qui n'existe pas

Waehner, Karin (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Les marches

Waehner, Karin (France)

  • Add to playlist
06:06

(...)

  • Add to playlist
03:15

(In)secure

Siwa, Carmelita (Benin)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Danse de l'enchanteresse - Mohini Attam

Kshemavati (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Récital de Bharata Natyam

Petit, Élisabeth (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Naï ou cristal qui songe

Diasnas, Hervé (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Le Bateleur

Deloche, Pierre (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:58

Phosphores

Delichères, Annie (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:49

IT'S ALL FORGOTTEN NOW - A performative mixtape for Mark Fisher

Winkler, Christoph (Uganda)

  • Add to playlist
06:50

IT'S ALL FORGOTTEN NOW - A performative mixtape for Mark Fisher

Winkler, Christoph (Uganda)

  • Add to playlist
03:13

L'ombre du doute

Santbergen, Feike (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:58

Placement libre

Moncla, Julia (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:59

VanThorhout

Vantournhout, Alexander (France)

  • Add to playlist
03:00

Improvisations. Solo.

Andrews, Jerome (France)

  • Add to playlist
02:55

Power / Full

Jones, Bill T. (France)

  • Add to playlist
Our themas suggestions

QUDUS ONIKEKU : Se réapproprier une mémoire oubliée

Exposition virtuelle

Maison de la danse

QUDUS ONIKEKU : Se réapproprier une mémoire oubliée

Exposition virtuelle

Découvrez le travail du chorégraphe Qudus Onikeku à travers cette exposition, réalisée par un groupe d'étudiants de l'Université de Lyon 2 issus du Master Arts de la scène et du spectacle vivant (théâtre et danse), en collaboration avec la Biennale de la danse - édition 2021 et Numeridanse. 

Discover
Know more

The committed artist

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

The committed artist

Parcours

In all the arts and here especially in dance, the artist sometimes creates to defend a cause, to denounce a fact, to disturb, to shock. Here is a panorama of some "committed" choreographic creations.

Discover
Know more

Les Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis

Exposition virtuelle

Maison de la danse

Les Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis

Exposition virtuelle

Une traversée de l’histoire des Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis, depuis le Concours de Bagnolet jusqu’aujourd’hui.  

Discover
Know more

40 ans de rock et danse

Exposition virtuelle

Maison de la danse

40 ans de rock et danse

Exposition virtuelle

Chic planète, dansons dessus, oh oh oh

Chic planète, dansons dessus, oh oh oh

Chic planète, dansons dessus...

Et mettons-nous tous nus 

> Chanson de l’Affaire Louis Trio (1987)

Discover
Know more

Indian dances

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Indian dances

Parcours

Discover Indian dance through choreographic creations which unveil it, evoke it, revisit it or transform it!

Discover
Know more

Body and conflicts

Parcours

Olivier Lefebvre

Body and conflicts

Parcours

A look on the bonds which appear to emerge between the dancing body and the world considered as a living organism.

Discover
Know more

Danse et arts numériques

Exposition virtuelle

K. Danse - Jean-Marc Matos

Danse et arts numériques

Exposition virtuelle

Créations de spectacles, performances participatives et installations mêlant danse contemporaine et arts numériques interactifs. Une constante dialectique entre le corps vivant (vécu) et le corps visuel (donné à voir ou virtuel). Une exposition proposée par Jean-Marc Matos, chorégraphe de la compagnie K. Danse.

Discover
Know more

La compagnie Dyptik

Exposition virtuelle

Maison de la danse

La compagnie Dyptik

Exposition virtuelle

Découvrez la compagnie Dyptik, leur travail et leur lieu de création dans cette exposition virtuelle.

Discover
Know more

Genesis of work

Parcours

Centre national de la danse

Genesis of work

Parcours

A dance show is created in multiples steps between the enunciation of an initial desire which launch the project and the first representation. This parcours presents diff

Discover
Know more

Artistic Collaborations

Parcours

Centre national de la Danse

Artistic Collaborations

Parcours

Panorama of different artistic collaborations, from « couples » of choreographers to creations involving musicians or plasticians

Discover
Know more

Dance and performance

Parcours

Marie-Thérèse Champesme

Dance and performance

Parcours

 Here is a sample of extracts illustrating burlesque figures in Performances.

Discover
Know more

Round dance

Parcours

Olivier Lefebvre

Round dance

Parcours

 Presentation of the Round’s figure in choreography.

Discover
Know more

Butoh

Parcours

Olivier Lefebvre

Butoh

Parcours

On 24th May 1959, Tatsumi Hijikata portrayed the character of the "Man" in the first presentation of a play called Kinjiki (Forbidden Colours).
The Ankoku Butoh was born,

Discover
Know more

Do you mean Folklores?

Parcours

Sarah Nouveau

Do you mean Folklores?

Parcours

Presentation of how choreographers are revisiting Folklore in contemporary creations.

Discover
Know more

Ballet pushed to the edge

Parcours

Olivier Lefebvre

Ballet pushed to the edge

Parcours

 Ballet’s evolution from its romantic form until néo-classicism.

Discover
Know more

Dance in Quebec: Untamed Bodies

Parcours

Geneviève Dussault

Dance in Quebec: Untamed Bodies

Parcours

First part of the Parcours about dance in Quebec, these extracts present how bodies are being used in a very physical way.

Discover
Know more

La Maison de la Danse de Lyon

Exposition virtuelle

Maison de la danse

La Maison de la Danse de Lyon

Exposition virtuelle

Créée à Lyon en 1980, la Maison de la Danse fut le premier théâtre en Europe dédié exclusivement la danse. Avec plus de 150 000 spectateurs par saison et près de 200 levers de rideaux, la Maison de la Danse rassemble aujourd’hui un large public de spectacles très fédérateurs mais aussi d’œuvres innovantes et de recherche. Théâtre de diffusion mais aussi pôle européen de création et d’innovations numériques, la Maison de la Danse vous ouvre ses portes et vous dévoile ses projets.

Discover
Know more

Female / male

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Female / male

Parcours

A walk between different conceptions and receptions of genres in different styles and eras of dance.

Discover
Know more

Dance and music

Parcours

Anne Décoret-Ahiha

Dance and music

Parcours

The relationship between music and choreographic works varies throught dance history.

Discover
Know more

Dance and visual arts

Parcours

Marie-Thérèse Champesme

Dance and visual arts

Parcours

Dance and visual arts have often been inspiring for each other and have influenced each other. This Parcours can not address all the forms of their relations; he only tries to show the importance of plastic creation in some choreographies.

Discover
Know more
By accessing the website, you acknowledge and accept the use of cookies to assist you in your browsing.
You can block these cookies by modifying the security parameters of your browser or by clicking onthis link.
I accept Learn more