Compagnie Hervé KOUBI, a mesmerizing French dance company which offers a mix of contemporary and urban dance, capoeira and martial arts, comes to Union this fall as part of the Department of Theater and Dance’s annual Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency.
Union is partnering with The Egg for a two-day residency that will include a master class, a lecture/demonstration and a public performance. This will be Compagnie Hervé KOUBI’s first appearance in the Capital Region.
Drawing creative strength from his Algerian roots and Mediterranean culture, Hervé Koubi is a powerhouse player on the international touring circuit, showcasing stunning imagery and inspired choreography.
The French dance company Compagnie Hervé KOUBI is coming to Union next month as part of the Department of Theater and Dance’s annual Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency.
His initial choreographic interest was in tradition and the way movement is passed down through generations. His work has sought to bridge the gap between the social dances and the cultures of today with a dance that gathers, unites and builds links between people. In a visit to Algeria, he underwent a creative transformation through a pivotal encounter with urban dance. Since then, he has explored the porosity of movement, blending technical and aesthetic styles to create a language that defies traditional categories.
Said the New York Times of the company, “They fly. They spin. They change how you see the amazing!” The New Yorker offered that “the dancers of Compagnie Hervé KOUBI could be mistaken for gods."
"We are thrilled to bring Compagnie Hervé KOUBI to Union as part of the Stephanie C. Davis Residency to create meaningful experiences for our students and community,” said Laurie Zabele Cawley, the Gustave L. Davis ’59 and Susan S. Davis Director of Dance. “Hervé Koubi’s extraordinary physicality, artistry and sense of community will challenge, inspire and move our audiences, making this residency a particularly exciting opportunity for the Capital Region.”
On Friday, Oct. 16, the artists will offer two free events in the Henle Dance Pavilion, both open to the public with no registration required. There will be a master class from 5 to 6:15 p.m., followed by an hour-long lecture/demonstration beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The residency culminates with a performance at The Egg at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, of the company’s latest creation, “Sol Invictus.” Named after the “invincible sun” deity, this work upholds love as the guarantor of peace, that despite fracture, communion emerges as humanity’s saving grace. The music score includes a composition by Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson with excerpts by Steve Reich and digital composer Maxime Bodson.
Koubi will speak about his company and his work in a free pre-show talk with Zabele Cawley in the theatre lobby at 6:15 p.m.
A reviewer of “Sol Invictus” described it as “non-stop energy in a super-charged ritual celebrating life and light…with ebb and flow, bodies hurtle through the air—horizontally, vertically, upside down, right side up—in physics defying feats for 75 minutes.”
“Compagnie Hervé Koubi is truly mesmerizing, and their performance of ‘Sol Invictus’ will transport you,” said Diane Eber, executive and artistic director of The Egg. “We're so grateful for our partnership with Union College for making it possible to host them here at The Egg. It's a beautiful way to honor the Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency and celebrate innovative art in the Capital Region”
Tickets for the performance at The Egg are normally $25-$45, but complimentary tickets are available to the Union community by reservation at the website.
Now in its 18th year, the Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency was created by a gift from Gus Davis ‘59 and Sue Davis in memory of their daughter, a dancer with a lifelong love of the performing arts. The residencies have featured such national and international companies as Ballet Jazz de Montreal, RubberBand Dance, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Spellbound Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Philadanco and Limón Dance Company.