Crawl

I would like to invite Ukrainian Hip Hop dancer Bboy Uzee Rock to come and perform. For about fifteen years, Uzee Rock has been a key figure on the Ukrainian breakdance scene, consistently showcasing his style by referencing the traditional Ukrainian dances that inspire him. As Russia has invaded Ukraine, these complex and virtuosic gestures, shared on social media by dancers, become acts of resistance: they are like a defiant gesture against the pro-Putin propaganda that proclaims the superiority of Russian culture over Ukrainian culture.

As a choreographer, I am interested in these erased popular cultures myself. My piece Hopak - created in May 2024 - raises the question of the future of these dances. But, since they have been largely lost, I approach them from the perspective of reinvention, transformation, what I call "choreographic recycling." By reproducing gestures, it seems to me that Uzee Rock's practice is more in line with a tradition of collage and ready-made.

In his dance and movements, Uzee Rock punctuates his breakdance phrases with these traditional elements, though he never thought of turning them into a full piece. For CRAWL, I would like to choreograph a solo for him, guiding him toward a complete piece while I, myself, would shift my research into the unfamiliar territory of urban dance. This solo would form a diptych with my piece Hopak, around the question that is dear to me: the future of dance over time.

Distribution / Team

• Olga Dukhovna: choreographer
• Bboy Uzee Rock: performer
• Mackenzy Bergile: composer
• Soraya MoBé: costume designer
• Simon Hatab: dramaturge
• Denis Malard: stage manager
• Amélie-Anne Chapelain: production manager
• Enora Floc’h: production coordinator

Premiere

• 2025 — Work in progress

Partners

• Production C.A.M.P
• Coproduction - Le Triangle, Cité de la danse