00:00One more time, the dancers go through their choreographies.
00:04Leading the rehearsal is Wenjiru Kamuyu,
00:07dancer, choreographer and creator of the festive performance
00:10that is coming to life in the French city of Lyon.
00:13Born and raised in Kenya, the artist frequently draws on her experiences
00:17in her home country, the US and France.
00:20Each space, each continent has offered me very different things,
00:24including the European continent.
00:26So France has also influenced my work in very many different ways
00:30since I've been here 19 years.
00:32Each continent has its spice and its special place in my movement,
00:37in my teaching, as well as in my creative.
00:40But for the project Shengwe Lubel, the choreographer's focus is on East Africa.
00:45Alternating between French and English,
00:47she teaches the amateur dancers and spectators words in Kiswahili.
00:51Love in Kiswahili. We need more of that now than ever.
01:03In Movement 2, the project is profoundly anchored in the region.
01:08Kamuyu worked with three East African choreographers.
01:11The result is an immersive learning experience for the dancers.
01:17I completely discovered these kinds of dancers from East Africa.
01:21We are in three groups, one group for Kenya, one for Tanzania and one for Burundi.
01:26We solely learned the steps, where they come from and why they are done the way they are done.
01:30And I really enjoyed it. It's very energetic.
01:34The choreographer's intentions with the project are visible in the title of the performance.
01:40Shengwe means joy in Kiswahili.
01:43Shengwe is a participatory, immersive space in which the party unfolds and everyone is welcome.
01:51It's a space to release, it's a space to receive joy, it's a space to give joy as well.
01:56And so it's for everybody.
02:01It's a message that seems to have found its destination in the audience.
02:04The dancers present the three choreographies to the spectators, many of whom are in fact also participating in the performance.
02:12Until late into the evening, there is music, movement and of course, joy.
02:17Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:18Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:19Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:19Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:20Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:20Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:20Thank you so much for joining us today.
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