Within the bowels of Chaillot National Theatre in Paris lies a stunning space.
It is a cavernous hall used for rehearsals with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sprawling gardens of Jardins Trocadero and the shimmering Eiffel Tower.
Theatre director and French-Algerian choreographer Rachid Ouramdane meets The National here to illustrate the approach to his craft.
“You know, it's amazing how dance is present in all aspects of society, from advertising to fashion, cinema and TikTok,” he says, while peering out of the window at the cars darting across the Avenue du President Wilson.
“You can even compose a choreography for this landscape — the movement of the cars and the kids playing in the garden. If you add music and present it in a certain way it becomes a piece of art. This shows how choreography can speak beyond the dance world.”
And with his latest work, Corps Extremes, Ouramdane looks at the fearless lives of extreme athletes.
Being staged at the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday, the production features aerial dance sequences in which the ensemble cast test their physical and mental strength.
Matched with audio commentary of these thrill-seeking athletes recalling some of their death-defying escapades, the production has some cast members scaling the walls of the theatre and balancing on a tightrope.
“This project is based on the idea of extreme practice, and how people can transform themselves by dealing with certain notions of risk,” Ouramdane says.
“It is not really so much about dance, but about how we can transform ourselves by facing risk and going beyond the practices of our daily life.”
Born in Algeria in 1971, Ouramande migrated with his family to France as a child, where he got into modern dance through hip-hop.
Through his own company L'A and eventually as Chaillot National Theatre director from 2021, Ouramande created genre bending and introspective works, exploring themes of identity, memory and the human body.
“What I have learnt through my artistic journey is that fragility is often perceived as a weakness,” he says.
“With Corps Extremes I was researching and surrounding myself with all these extreme sports athletes engaged in these intense practices and how they can be viewed as being crazy.
“Where in reality they just have a different relationship with risk, and it is by doing that they can face the difficulties of what they are doing with strength.”
Produced as a part of French jewellery house Van Cleef and Arpels’ international performance programme Dance Reflections, Ourmande hopes Corps Extremes challenges perceptions of what the art form can offer today.
“I don't want the audience to get used to the routine,” he says. “My focus is to bring something new and unexpected because these are the moments where choreography can really be something amazing and powerful.”
Corps Extremes will be performed at NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday. 7.30pm. Tickets are Dh54 and available at abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net
Company%20profile
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The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
The five pillars of Islam
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
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Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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