PHAIDRA – Digital collections

In this interview, BIENVENUE BAZIÉ, a Burkinabe choreographer residing between France and Burkina Faso, looks back on his journey between different dance techniques, imaginaries and heritages. He recalls the relationships he has woven in his choreographic creations with memory and the intimate story of his family or the formal history of the African continent. He also traces various initiatives in favour of the professionalisation of dance in Burkina Faso. In a social context where dance is not considered a paid occupation, he speaks about the actions generated so that young dancers can have access to the necessary spaces, knowledge and resources for their professional development. Finally, Bienvenue brings in this interview a strong voice in support of building an archive that would allow to trace, know and acknowledge the history of Burkinabe dances on a local and international scale.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

[00:01:14] Which are your first memories related to dance?
[00:04:10] What was your training path in dance and how were the different techniques gradually accumulated in your body?
[00:08:45] Did some techniques oppose others? Were there any contradictions in your training path?
[00:11:12] Where do you position your work today? What are your influences and your affinities?
[00:14:09] Could you speak about the connection between collective and personal history that shaped the autobiographical work Peubleto?
[00:22:00] How did you work with the different types of archives on Peubleto, Tourments Noirs and Zouhan?
[00:31:55] How is the relationship to memory present in the educational activities that you conduct in Burkina Faso or elsewhere?
[00:38:55] Within the Auguste-Bienvenue dance company have you set up a system to remember your creations? At the Choreographic Development Center, is there an archiving space?
[00:46:50] It is very interesting this back and forth between audiovisual documentation and writing. Do you systematically write down your choreographic notes?
[00:48:34] How do you participate in the reflection upon the history of dances from Africa or the histories of African contemporary dances in Mbomen or the Choreographic Development Center?