A wall implies beginnings and ends.

It rises, steep, insurmountable, paradoxical.

A wall protects, a wall conceals, separates, shuts away.

It is forcing us to make decisions, either assigning us to stay in the spot that we would like to overcome, or inviting us to move elsewhere.

On the other side, maybe freedom.

A wall reveals fears and desires.

A failure to pass or an opening to a journey, a side leaning toward the past, the other toward the future, the temptation to break through the walls is also mingled with the apprehension of what will be found behind

This expression originates from fencing: when a fencer steps back too much to avoid danger, he ends up being “Back to the wall”, without another choice than having to move forward to go fight his opponent. Figuratively, this expression means that we do not have any option left, that we have to act and solve problems.

 

Starting from that principle, the wall is there to stimulate the survival instinct of the dancers when facing situations that we are all confronted with, because of us or in spite of everything.

 

On a second level, the wall, which is the central element of the creation, symbolizes the duality that humans create naturally as a unique source of reflection and landmark. Therefore, the wall is first and foremost the materialization of our behavior, stretched between psychological border and building of constant antagonisms.

The creation of the show DOS AU MUR introduces an artwork with innovative concept, writing and technique, while also representing a novel approach toward the main element : the wall. Here, the artists aim to share a different approach of dance with the audience.

 

DOS AU MUR is a creation where Hip Hop dance mixes aesthetic and body performance in order to raise objective and intelligible sociological questions. Through the expression “DOS AU MUR”, the artists approach a process in which humans, and the society that they form, are in constant correlation. DOS AU MUR sends us back to the idea that humans are building their surrounding world, which in return will influence them.

      

DOS AU MUR is inviting us to think about the role of human beings and their share of responsibility for the two main ideas suggested by this expression.

 

Design, stage design and choreography : Regneault Camille, Julien Saint Maximin

Dancers: Regneault Camille, Julien Saint Maximin

Performance: YEAH YELLOW

Composer: Lepreux Julien

Lighting Designer: Stoll Frédéric

Stage Builder: Jipanco

Organizer: Shanghai International Dance Center Theater

 

Formerly a national level gymnast, then self-taught in Hip Hop dance, Kami created the “Compagnie EliôZ” in 2007 of which she is the choreographer. She then started the spin off company YEAH YELLOW  in 2012 with Bee D.

She has also been a dancer for Pierre Rigal’s “Compagnie Dernière Minute” since 2008, in the shows Asphalte, Standards, Paradis Lapsus and Scandale performed worldwide including Paris, Sidney, Sofia, London, Atlanta, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Hanoi, Surabaya, Jakarta…

She has also been working with other choreographers, namely Hervé Sika, Mohamed Rouabhi, and Emilie Carayol.

At the same time, she competes in breakdance battle competitions with YEAH YELLOW  in France (three times French Champion: 2013, 2015, 2016) and in several world competitions (Champion of the World Championship Breakdance Unbreakable in 2018, Silver Medal in the 2016 World Championships, Silver Medal in the International Hip Obsession in France, 9th rank at the International Silverback open B-Boy USA)

 

Self-taught in Hip Hop dance, Bee D distinguishes himself with his unique repertoire of movements and original style. He became famous touring the battle scene, while also being a choreographer, dancer and founder of the Phase T crew. He has won several titles including French Champion, European Champion, and 4th place in the Break Dance World Championships (BOTY 2005).

In 2012, he created YEAH YELLOW  with Kami and competed with this group in numerous international battles. He won with Kami and the french team the World Championships Outbreak in Slovakia in 2016. Alongside the competition, Bee D has been involved in several other companies including Black Blanc Beur, Des Equilibres, Cie A/R, Collectif A.O.C. He has worked with several choreographers : Régis Obadia, Lionel Hoche, Misok Séo, Georges Momboye; and he has performed in the circus show Africa Africa by André Heller.

Presently, he is working for Pierre Rigal’s Compagnie Dernière Minute in the shows Asphalte, Standards, Paradis Lapsus and Scandale.

 

YEAH YELLOW was founded in 2012 in order to incorporate a truly professional branch to the Association Eliôz. Thereafter, numerous professional dancers with specific styles (Bboying, Popping, Freestyle Hip Hop, and Tutting among others) have been included in this association whose main goal is to promote Hip Hop through creation and training courses.

YEAH YELLOW has helped these high level dancers use their deep complicity and complementarity to evolve toward a common goal: to enlarge their own abilities and to make a name for themselves within prestigious competitions.

The dancers of YEAH YELLOW were first involved in the Battle scene where they claimed national and international titles. During that time, these dancers improved their creative abilities within several famous companies working with well-known choreographers.

In 2016, all the dancers from YEAH YELLOW decided to use their different experiences to create their first choreographic show YEAH YELLOW SUNSHINE.

This granted them 3rd prize in the French Battle of the Year championship and 1st prize in the 2016 choreographic contest of Montluçon. The success of this project allowed them to be part of the 2017 Breakin’ Convention US Tour where they performed in New York, Denver, Miami and Charlotte.

Rich of these experiences as choreographers and dancers, the two main characters of the company, Camille REGNEAULT and Julien SAINT MAXIMIN, have now decided to choreograph their own creation “DOS AU MUR”.

 

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, coinciding with the hosting of the Paris Olympic Games in France. This year, Breaking will officially debut as one of the competitive events at the Paris Olympics. To share this festive mood, Shanghai International Dance Center Theater has specially planned the "French Breaking Season" to present with our audience the innovative contemporary Breaking workpieces from France, the exploration of new forms of physical expression in fusion with Breaking and modern dance, the practice and breakthrough of breakdance in contemporary art. (The French Breaking Season is also included in the Festival Croisements 2024.)

 

Street dance in France is of no doubt a leading culture, and Breaking, as one of its signatures, has reached new heights from its original street culture. By absorbing and experimenting with elements from modern dance, it has been digging up new possibilities and increasingly gaining popularity among the masses.

 

From May 24th to June 3rd, within a short span of 11 days, SIDCT will present three distinctly styled French Breaking works, DOS AU MUR, Exit, and We Are Monchichi. Additionally, there will be Breaking workshops, lectures, and free open days. With the opening of French Breaking Season, we applaud the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and share the exciting mood of the Paris Olympic Games.

 

The French Breaking Season is hosted by Shanghai International Dance Center Theater and supported by the Cultural Department of the Consulate General of France in Shanghai and Cypress Garden Hotel Shanghai