Performance explores African diaspora narratives
The Sea is History, a performance by Betty Tchomanga, explores the absence of certain narratives from the African diaspora and how these absences manifest in the movement of today's bodies. The work features a ternary rhythm, a step, and a march, evoking deities and resistance figures from diverse heritages while invoking oceanic imaginaries described as tragic, sublime, and luminous.Dancers and creative team
The performance includes dancers such as Andrège Bidiamambu, Camilo Mejía Cortés, Julien Ferranti, Karine Dahouindji, Kene, Kenza Kabisso, Mulunesh Tebebu, Ndoho Ange, Siaska Chareyre, and Zora Snake. Choreography and staging are by Betty Tchomanga, based on an original idea by Betty Tchomanga and Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc.Supporting roles and production details
Dramaturgy is provided by Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc, with scenography by Eduardo Abdala, Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc, and Betty Tchomanga. Lighting creation is by Eduardo Abdala, sound creation by Stéphane Monteiro, and video creation by Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc. Creation assistants include Emma Tricard and Dalila Khatir, with vocal work by Dalila Khatir and Viviane Marc.Production and institutional support
The production is by GANG and includes co-productions with several cultural institutions including La Danse en Grande forme, Cndc – Angers, CCN – Malandain Ballet Biarritz, CCN de Caen en Normandie, Boom’Structur – CDCN de Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand, CCN de Grenoble, MC2: Maison de la Culture de Grenoble – Scène nationale, Maison de la danse – Lyon, CCN – Ballet national de Marseille, CCN – Ballet de Lorraine, Le Gymnase CDCN Roubaix Hauts-de-France, La Place de la Danse CDCN Toulouse / Occitanie, La Briqueterie – CDCN du Val-de-Marne, and others.Financial and residency support
Financial support comes from DGCA – Film Writing Assistance, DRAC Brittany – Company Conventioned, Brittany Region, City of Brest, and the Patronage of the Caisse des Dépôts. Residency accommodations include MC2: Maison de la culture de Grenoble – Scène nationale, L’Agora, international dance city – Montpellier Danse + CCN Occitanie, Charleroi Danse, choreographic center of Wallonia-Brussels, CCN de Caen en Normandie, Danse à tous les étages, CDCN itinerant in Brittany, Le Quartz, national scene of Brest, Le Triangle conventioned dance scene of Rennes, TNB – National Theatre of Brittany, Rennes, La Ménagerie de verre in the context of the StudioLab program, and CN D National Center of Dance.Performance schedule
The performance will be presented on 4 and 5 November 2026 at MC2:GRENOBLE, 3 to 8 December at the Festival d'Automne x Théâtre de la Bastille in Paris, 28 January 2027 at CCAM x Ballet de Lorraine in Nancy, 3 to 5 February at TNB x Danse à tous les étages in Rennes, 16 March at CNDC Angers, 31 March at Festival Le Grand Bain x Le Phénix in Valenciennes, 11-13 May 2027 at MA national scene in Montbéliard, and 20 May at Le Quartz national scene in Brest.
