Serge Aimé Coulibaly
Serge Aimé Coulibaly is a dancer and choreographer from Burkina Faso. He was born in Bobo Diou- lasso, and has worked in Europe and the rest of the world since 2002.
His inspiration is rooted in African culture and his art is committed to the necessity of powerful contemporary dance. A dance rooted in emotion but also the bearer of reflection and hope. His vigorous expressiveness makes his work universal and finds a response on several continents. Since he set up his Faso Dance Théâtre company in 2002, Serge Aimé Coulibaly has been exploring complex themes, with the desire to offer young people a genuine positive dynamism. His productions have been presented in many theatres all over Europe and Africa and also been invited to several festivals.
These include Kalakuta Republik (2016), Nuit Blanche à Ouagadougou (2014), Fadjiri (2013), Khokuma 7° Sud (2011), Babemba (2008), Soli- tude d’un Homme Intègre (2007), A Benguer (2006), Minimini (2002).
His open view of the world and of differences, which he always questions, plus his constructive energy and will to persevere, has led to collaboration with several other artists since the beginning of his career.
He regularly works on international productions, both as a performer and choreographer. He worked with Moïse Touré (La Maladie de la Mort, 2015), with Marrukegu Company in Australia (Cut the Sky, 2014 and Burning Daylight, 2009), with Farid Berki (Double Jeu, 2013), with Julie Dossavi (Cross and Share, 2012), with Alain Platel (C(H)OEURS, 2012 and Wolf, 2003), with Kalpana Raghuraman (I lost my English, 2008) and with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Tempus Fugit, 2004).
Serge Aimé Coulibaly’s work, always in motion and fuelled by curiosity and generosity, has aroused the inter- est and confidence of a great many organisations. In addition, his desire and will to share his knowledge has led him to make dance pieces for amateur dancers. During his artistic training with the FEEREN company in Burkina Faso, headed by Amadou Bourou, and afterwards in his time at Le Centre National Chorégraphique de Nantes, under Claude Brumachon, Serge Aimé Coulibaly was able to develop his talent and personal tastes and then transfer them into art. He aims to develop an original creativity and involves the dancers and choreographers who attend his masterclasses in questioning their responsibility as performing artists and the power of the vocabulary that has a significance in their role as citizens.
Faso Danse Théâtre
OUR STORY
Dance, theatre, music, these arts are fed by a need to express all of life, myths and legends, everyday work, love stories, revolt and the fight that is a necessary part of the human condition. Serge Aimé Coulibaly met the company FEEREN in Ouagadougou in 1993 ; there he learnt about acting, dancing and music and developed a taste for long days of meticulous work and increased his creativity. In 1998 and 1999 he became the choreographer for the opening ceremonies of the African Football Cup and FESPACO in Ouagadougou. How could he continue to progress and widen his horizons to find his own personal way ? He chose to explore possible elsewheres and came to France in 2001 where he continued his training with Claude Brumachon and in Danse à Lille, with Dany Lo Flora Gomez. All the while staying open to various collaborations, he set up his company Faso Danse Theatre in 2002. At the same time, he met Alain Platel and the Ballets C de la B : this would be the revealing moment of the way he would follow, of his essential identity as a dancer and a choreographer.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Being born and spending your childhood in Burkina during Thomas Sankara’s presidency, is a sure way of learning very early on a feeling for politics, a sincere interest in others and the becoming of a nation and a continent. It is a way of developing a global conscience and a cutting lucidity. In a country where everything has yet to be built, culture is obviously a key issue ; building a space for creativity in people’s spirits, widening their vision, showing them events suffered under a different light, allowing bubbles of hope to grow and anchoring these to real possibilities.
Of course, all this sounds so futile when everything else, food, security, water, is a daily struggle. But is this not the one true urge, the origin of all actions ? Give back their dignity to people and their personal capacities to evolve for a rich, continuous and sustainable change.
