Questioning the notions of place, belonging and otherness
Presented by the Regional Dance Network: Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, Dance Limerick, Tipperary Dance and Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
Wanjiru Kamuyu is engaged in questioning the notions of place, belonging and otherness. A cosmopolitan on three continents - Africa, North America and Europe – wherever she decides to set up home, is she considered an immigrant?
Her solo interrogates the gaze upon the “foreigner” in a new space, new society. The work, through satire, offers a critical eye on the notions of place and placement that are prevalent in today’s political discourse. An Immigrant’s Story is a Bessie Award winner in the category Outstanding Choreographer.
WKcollective creates immersive, visceral experiences through the medium of contemporary dance. Project-based works weave stories and express universal experiences. Collaboration across artistic disciplines opens discourse and intrigue through the power of poetic expression in vocal and physical movement. Founded by Kenyan-American choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu in 2009, WKcollective attracts multidisciplinary artists of diverse cultural backgrounds to the creative canvas. Drawing upon these art forms to stimulate fresh, innovative, vulnerable, raw, graphic art to generate personal and social reflection through a transformative celebration with dance.
Wanjiru Kamuyu holds an MFA from Temple University and began her career in New York with Urban Bush Women and Molissa Fenley. She has collaborated with artists including Bill T. Jones, Robyn Orlin, Bartabas, Irène Tassembedo, and Anne Collod amongst others. Since 2017, Kamuyu has created several works presented across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the US, as well as a dance film, La Visite (2020).
Choreographer and performer Wanjiru Kamuyu Dramaturge and producer Dirk Korell Texts Laetitia Ajanohun Translation of texts Sarah Cardova and Wanjiru Kamuyu Music composition LACRYMOBOY With the voices of Sherwood Chen, David Gaulein-Stef, Naïs Haidar, Karine Hanselmann, Wanjiru Kamuyu, Dirk Korell, Crystal Petit, Monika Schwarzl, Sean Seago and the stories of Tout-Monde Light design Cyril Mulon Costume design Birgit Neppl Production intern Yvan-Loïc Kamdem Djoko Special thanks to Robyn Orlin, Jean Gaudin and David Gaulein-Stef Executive production camin aktion
Co-production Espace 1789 de Saint-Ouen, scène conventionnée de Saint-Ouen La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux • La Rochelle L'échangeur – CDCN Hauts-de-France Musée National de l'Histoire de l’Immigration Théâtre de la Ville – Paris L’Onde Théâtre Centre d’Art, Scène Conventionnée d’Intérêt National – Art et Création pour la Danse micadanses, Paris
Funding Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d'Île-de-France Région Ile-de-France SPEDIDAM
Residencies Direction des Affaires Culturelles de la Ville d'Aubervilliers – Espace Renaudie SUBS, Lyon, Saison 2019-20
Partnership - residencies L'échangeur – CDCN Hauts-de-France La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux • La Rochelle La Place de la Danse - CDCN Toulouse/Occitanie
Partnership – studio space Atelier de Paris / Centre de développement chorégraphique national Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers CN D Centre national de la danse, Pantin micadanses, Paris (as part of a specific partnership)
Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland. The WKcollective Ireland tour is supported by the Institut Français and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations' program, Mouvements.
Photo credit: Pierre Planchenault
