ESPERANTO

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE GENEROUS BACKERS. TOGETHER WE REACHED THE FIRST GOAL OF 1000 EUROS SET FOR KISSKISSBANKBANK. THANK YOU TO THE FABULOUS BACKERS WHO HELPED REACHED THE SECOND GOAL OF 2000 EUROS. IT WILL BE EASIER TO CREATE IN THIS CONDITIONS. STILL THIS AMOUNT COVERS PARTIALLY THE TOTAL BUDGET TO MAKE THE PRODUCTION HAPPEN. SO LET'S BE EXTRAORDINARY AND KEEP IT UP WITH A THIRD GOAL OF 3000 EUROS!"

Gwen Rakotovao is a French choreographer of Malagasy roots.

The project is the first step in the creation of her new production « Esperanto », to be given a first presentation on Saturday, January 14th 2017 in Normandy followed by another presentation in Paris. "Esperanto" is a continuation of Gwen's recent project « L’amour. La liberté » in New York, honouring the diversity of France and its unique including that of her country of origin Madagascar.

A residency was given to Gwen by the Parisian dance studio MICADANSES and will begin in September 2016. The 60 to 80 hours of residency will be used to start creating and writing her new dance choreography. This time spent in Paris will allow Gwen to meet and interact with choreographers and people from the dance field who will help the project to develop.

At the end of the residency, Gwen will continue working on her creation at the relais Catelier. This new step will result to a first presentation on Saturday, January 14th 2017 in Normandy and then in Paris.

To achieve this first step, a fund is necessary to remunerate the artistic and administrative teams in order to handle the scenography and manage the technical needs such as the research of sponsors, co-producers, residencies, musics, costumes etc…

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Artist statement about "Esperanto" :

« I am malagasy born in France and I grew up in a multicultural environment. I learned a lot through my experiences of life, my travels and my work is characterized by this multicultural aspect of me.

The unfairness and the lack of tolerance present in our society always moved me and influenced my work. I created my dance company in 2011 aiming to share my utopian vision. My motto always is “If we can’t change the world, it doesn’t cost anything to try.” Although few people believed in what I am trying to achieve my work toured in four continents, including six countries and thirteen cities.

In 2013, I created a dance piece « L’amour. La liberté. » It premiered in New York at the Dixon Place on October 26th 2014. The dance creation explores the connection between cultures and human beings with a message of hope that one day this connection will allow the gaps between generations, genders, judgments and individuals to heal. The creation was made in collaboration with the Leeds College of Chopin.

I relocated temporarily to France after I signed a contract with YK Projects, a dance company based between Lagos and Paris, at the end of 2015. This return happened simultananeously with the terrorist attacks of November 13th 2015. To create a continuity of « L’amour. La liberté » appeared to me as an obvious challenge to take.

With « Espéranto » I wish to honour the diversity of France, its unique History that includes my country of origin Madagascar. The France I love, which sometimes revolts me. Just like in a love relationship, it is sometimes violent, it is sometimes sweet and it is always excessive. This new episode is the continuity of what I started three years ago and I wish to give a greater meaning to the word liberty we love. I even dare to create about hope.

To dance is to give. I, of course, wish to accompany this new creation with outreach dance projects. I still have to define them but it will all be about sharing, meetings and movements for all. »

Gwen Rakotovao

Project budget

Compensation of the artistic team : 2000 €

80 hours of work

Compensation of the administrative team : 1000 €

40 hours of work

Budget for musics and costumes : 700 €

The crowdfunding aims to cover partially the project. However it could totally be funded depending of your generosity.

Portrait of Gwen Rakotovao:

Excerpt of INITIATION, solo, premiered at the théâtre Charles Dullin in 2013

Excerpt of "L'amour. La liberté", premiered at Dixon Place in 2014.