Ramanenjana x (un)safe zones

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On 6 and 7 October, from 19:30, we invite you to “Ramanenjana”, one of Tangaj Collective’s most successful performances, coupled with an evening of dance films co-presented by Bucharest International Dance Film Festival. As part of the international tour “Retrocontrol – Performative Documentaries on the Move”, the two events present dance as a revolt against an oppressive system, a response to geographical isolation, political crisis, or lack of empathy. Wishing to encourage other kinds of discourse outside the Western sphere of influence, the two evenings invite audiences to discover the social choreography of communities in Madagascar, Ghana, China, Finland, or those on the US-Mexico border.

“Ramanenjana” is a performative docu-fiction about a dance that made history. In Malagasy, “Ramanenjana” means something that makes you stiff, but also something that makes you strong. In the midst of disease, social unrest and healing rituals, the show critically debates multiple versions of the same mass dance event. Following several years of research, “Ramanenjana” examines the social role of dance and how colonialism may have spread misconceptions about an extraordinary movement.

Collaborating with ethnomusicologist and musician Olombelo Ricky, choreographers Simona Deaconescu and Gaby Saranouffi, together with three performers, explore the phenomenon of “Ramanenjana” using historical texts, dynamic hand gestures and ecstatic movements.

The performance premiered in 2022 at Radialsystem in Berlin and was subsequently presented at CNDB (RO), TNB (RO), I’Trota International Dance Festival (MG), !Jomba Contemporary Dance Festival (SA), Connect Contemporary Dance Festival (RO), Quinzena de Dança de Almada (PT), Derida Dance Centre (BG) and is to be presented during the Dinam Season at Faber in Timișoara. In January 2023, the show will have a series of performances in British California, Canada, as part of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival selection. “Ramanenjana” was created in collaboration with PACT Zollverein (DE), IFM Madagacar (MG), Goethe Zentrum Antananarivo (MG).

A performative docu-fiction by: Simona Deaconescu, Gaby Saranouffi
Performed by: Haja Saranouffi, Simona Dabija, Maria Luiza Dimulescu
Accompanied by the music of: Olombelo Ricky
In costumes by: Cristina Milea
Video by: Cristian Pascariu, Simona Deaconescu
Newspaper graphic design: Victor Bartiș
Co-production: Tangaj Collective Association, Forecast Berlin and National Dance Centre Bucharest