Can we unite dance with spirituality? Choreographer and dancer Taoufiq Izeddiou answers the question by using the one to discuss the other. In his dance solo En Alerte (2015), he wants to show and discuss mankind’s inclination towards the divine. How important is spirituality today? And how important should it be?

En Alerte is largely based on Izeddiou’s own childhood experiences: one of the starting points is a Sufi ceremony he attended as a child. This was his first contact with both spirituality and dance.

His journey up until now is portrayed in a dance solo depicting mankind’s natural attraction to the divine, an attraction that can either result in a blossoming or an imploding soul.

Dance, music and contemporary Arabic poetry are all foundations for this special piece. More specifically, Izeddiou has found inspiration in the works of Palestinian poet and author Mahmoud Darwish.

Taoufiq Izeddiou is a choreographer, dancer, pedagogue and festival director. He is considered one of the top modern choreographers in Morocco, and his works has been presented all around Europe and in the Arab world. Before he discovered dance, he studied to become an architect and practised both boxing and theatre. In 2003, along with Moroccan dancers Bouchra Ouzigen and Said Ait El Moumen, he formed Anania – the first contemporary dance company in Morocco.

For over 15 years, Izeddiou has been working cross-border between Morocco and Europe, creating his pieces in the intersection between tradition and modernity. Izeddiou is also involved in his local community, offering training for young dancers in his hometown of Marrakesh. He is the founder and artistic director of On Marche, an international festival for contemporary dance in Marrakesh that was started in 2005.

Choreography and dance: Taoufiq Izeddiou
Musicians: M’Aalem Stitou & Mathieu Gaborit aka Ayato
Sound: Benoit Pelé
Video: Joachim Rümke
Production: Anania Danses/Taoufiq Izeddiou
Co-production: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Charleroi Danses, Festival de Marseille, steirischer herbst (Graz), Arab Fund for Arts and Culture AFAC
With support from: Klap/Maison pour la danse (Marseille), Alkantara (Lisbon), Centre Chorégraphique National de Franche-Comté à Belfort, Bois de l’Aune/Pôle artistique et culturel de la Communauté du Pays d’Aix, Centre Chorégraphique National d’Orléans, Tanzquartier Wien, Institut français (Paris), Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival (Groningen)

Presented by NXTSTP, with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union.