Tchekpo Dan Agbetou

Tchekpo Dan Agbetou dancer, choreographer, was first exposed to dance in his native country Benin/West Africa, where he explored traditional techniques. As an adolescent he lived in Paris, France and New York City where he studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Steps on Broadway, where he learnt styles such as Modern and Jazz. His original style would eventually become a fusion of Modern, Jazz and contemporary African dance. Tchekpo takes part in many international workshops and festivals.

In 1991 he founded the Tchekpo Dance Company in France. From here he would move to Bielefeld, Germanyin 1995, where he opened the center for dance and creativity DAN’S ART and to this day he continues to work with this company. His productions have been successfully shown since not only in Europe but also in Asia, Africa and the USA.

In 2002 he took over as artistic director for the “Dance Festival Bielefeld”. By the way “Aura” also participated in this festival in 2006.

In 2006 Tchekpo launched the Festival of Contemporary Dance fromAfrica, the “Biennale Passages,” which takes place every two years, and which has since been recognized as one of the best festivals to promote new styles of dance.

In 2009 another festival was brought to life, the biennale “artists in fusion”. This festival brings to- gether contemporary artists from different fields and allows them to merge their styles and perform their creations. 

 

“Caresse du vent” (“Caress the wind”)

What own reality turns out? Or: By what own reality is embossing?

Is it feeding through the own personal history, memories and physical experiences? Is it a construction of our viewings, thoughts and illusions that we consider as our reality? Does it correspond to the image of a man who finds inner peace, security and dignity through the achievement of its life-task? How far addictions or habits change or influence our reality?

In the third part of its „Trilogie du Vent“ (trilogy of the wind) the dancer and choreographer Tchekpo Dan Agbetou carries forward its journey to itself through time and space. The wind with all its facets – whether as a tender flatterer or as a devastating force of nature – stands for the element which reflects the diversity of different emotions of its reality life. At the same time he plays with it as an image for the mixing of past, present and future, for its own realities and the uncertainty wherever the future is carrying him.

Caresse du vent – touch by emotions of rivalry, pity, fear, harm, dolefulness, joy, shame, anger, hate and disaffection…

 

Concept, choreography and dance: Tchekpo Dan Agbetou
Director: Augustinus von Loe und Tchekpo Dan Agbetou
Movement direction: Alice Weissbarth
Light design and sound mix: Chris Umney
Music: Steve Reich (music for 18 musicians) David Darligne (cello blue) Ludovico Einaudi (In a Time Lapse)
Administration: Ulla Agbetou
Production: Tchekpo Dance Company
Co-production: DansArt Tanznetworks
Sponsors: Ministerium für Familie, Kinder, Jugend und Sport des Landes Nordrhein Westfalen. Verein der Förderer der Tanzkunst e.v.