Byb Chanel Bibene, San Francisco, CA Artistic Director of Kiandanda Dance Theater
Born and raised in the Republic of Congo, Byb Chanel Bibene is a choreographer and artistic director of Kiandanda Dance Theater. His own technical and aesthetic sensibility is rooted in the culture and traditional dances of his country. As a survivor of the civil wars that tore apart the Congo in the 1990’s, Bibene is creating a theater piece titled, Taboo and Heroes, that explores the subject of victims of war and the lack of freedom of expression due to irresponsible dictatorial powers and the neo-colonial influences of western powers. The point of this project, combining dance, theater, music and video, is intended to lead people to pay more attention to what is going on in the world because a collective effort can help find solutions and lead to a better life on earth, ecologically, socially, politically and humanly.
2013 Festival Weekend One Artist
“Taboo and Heroes”
Taboo and Heroes, explores the situation of the wars that struck the Republic of Congo in the late 1990’s in a multimedia performance, featuring modern and traditional dance, interactive video design and live contemporary music. Taboo and Heroes addresses the reality and consequences of violence and corruption through the specific experiences of Byb Chanel Bibene. Bringing together dance and theater performers, an original music score, set design and video elements, the piece aims to transport the audience into the charged atmosphere of conflict that permeated, and still echoes in everyday life in the Republic of Congo. This piece transposes the Congolese environment on stage. Exploring the subject of victims of war and the lack of freedom of expression due to irresponsible dictatorial powers and the neo-colonial influences of western powers, choreographer Bibene, as a survivor of the Congolese war, intends to demonstrate the essence of these dramatic situations of war, which are lived by thousands of people throughout the world. This project is intended to lead people to pay more attention to what is going on in the world because a collective effort can help find solutions and lead to a better life not only in Africa but also in the rest of the world, ecologically, socially, politically and humanly.
