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Through Dance
French-based Troupe Visiting Lenfest Next Week
Washington and Lee University welcomes Compagnie Hervé Koubi’s French-based, Algerianrooted troupe’s production” (“What the Day Owes to the Night) on Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Keller Theatre, Lenfest Hall.
Defying gravity and embodying grace, the dancers of “Ce Que Le Jour Doit A’la Nuit” come together in a mesmerizing feat of dance and athleticism — explosive acrobats and capoeira — and cultural exploration that audiences will never forget, according to a spokesperson.
Compagnie Hervé Koubi’s troupe of all-male dancers combine urban and contemporary styles of dance in choreography reminiscent of desert sand and spinning dervishes. Each dancer, few traditionally trained, brings unique movement and authentic personal style to the stage, said the spokesperson. Together, they create an artistic cohesion built, not around identical technique, but around mutual understanding and musical connection. Since its American debut in 2015, the company has been internationally praised for its incredible feats of acrobatics, storytelling and technical design.
Jordan Peimer, Washington and Lee’s new Lenfest Center director, described the show as relentlessly athletic.
“It’s evocative of the 21st century, while simultaneously being mesmerizing and taking you to another time and place,” Peimer said.
He’s thrilled to bring the company to Washington and Lee, for both a performance and for outreach into academic disciplines and classrooms in and outside of the arts.
Hervé Koubi, a French choreographer of Algerian descent, has dedicated himself to bridging cultures and exploring the raw power of expression through dance. His company moves to everything from Bach to traditional Egyptian to Sufi arrangements. He explores change, group rituals and geographic diversity, creating poetic dioramas reminiscent of Oriental paintings and Islamic architecture.
The fourth installment of the Lenfest Center’s University Outreach & Engagement Series focuses on Compagnie Hervé Koubi’s visit to the W&L campus, connecting university knowledge and art experiences on the W&L campus and beyond to the community in a mutually beneficial partnership. Koubi will work with the W&L Francophone Student Group in an immersive evening dialogue. In addition, Koubi will host a W&L Dance master class and will participate in a post-performance Q&A.
The event is sponsored in part by Class of ’64 Performing Arts Fund; Francophone Student Organization and Theater, Dance, and Film Studies.
Tickets are required. Tickets prices are $33 for the general public, $30 for seniors, $27 for W&L faculty and staff and $8 for students. Online ticket sales are available at https://my.wlu.edu/ lenfest-center/herve-koubi.
The box office is open for inperson sales Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrons can contact the box office by calling (540) 458-8000 or emailing [email protected].
