The older ones are over fifty; the youngest flaunt their vibrant twenties. Three generations of dancers from street dance gathered around Quebec choreographer Crazy Smooth for the show In My Bodyin which bodies of all ages are exhibited in unison.
In the rehearsal room, a few days before the premiere, the contrast is striking. The dancers warm up to the rhythm dictated by their bodies. While the youngest multiply the acrobatic tricks, the oldest gently relax their still stiff muscles at the end of the afternoon.
But there is an atmosphere of camaraderie here that transcends generations. Hip-hop music fills the space. The hugs are many and felt.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Crazy Smooth, in blue, center, surrounded by dancers DKC Freeze, Tash and JC Fresh
Fate
Crazy Smooth (real name Yvon Soglo) chose the performers carefully to create his latest show. He tells : ” In My Body was born from a reflection that I have had for a long time. In the career of an artist streetdance, there comes a time when, because of an injury, your body forces you to stop. Me, it happened to me four times: I had four operations on my knees…”
At each of these forced stops, a reflection was imposed, in particular on the career choices, even the life choices he had made. “I live in Gatineau, a city where a lot of people work for the federal government. Artist careers are less common than in Montreal. There was enormous pressure on me to get job security, a pension fund… I wondered where I was going. »
Quickly, he discovered that these thoughts on how to continue his art despite injuries or the aging of the body were widely shared in his community. “The reflection is different according to the age of the dancers. Older dancers are dancing better than before. Young people have more damaged bodies than old people. There are a multitude of perspectives on this question. »
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
A former Cirque du Soleil artist, Tash continues to practice streetdance at the age of 52.
The 43-year-old dancer and choreographer decided to build his show around these diverse perspectives with dancers of varying ages. The eldest of the group, DKC Freeze, is 58 years old. The youngest, JC Fresh, is 26. In In My Body, the nine performers, Crazy Smooth included, take part in group numbers, trios or duets to original music by DJ Shash’U. On the program: from breaking especially, but also houseof poppingsometimes punctuated by spoken word. “Videos projected on the dancers, made by the mirami company, allow us to bring the spectator inside our bodies, to discover the crimes and the war that we make them suffer. »
The wisdom of predecessors
For Crazy Smooth, each generation has contributed its stone to the building of this show, which has won numerous awards, especially after its visit to Toronto.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Dancer and choreographer Crazy Smooth
The older ones serve as guides. Without them, it would be the circus; we would invent things without a soul, without taking our roots into account. The younger ones bring the fire, the energy, which is essential. And my generation, which is between the two, serves as a bridge. Without us, there would be more friction.
Crazy Smooth
Accepting the aging of the body can be particularly difficult for artists of street dance. ” THE street dance comes from hip-hop culture which is a youth culture, created by 13 or 14 year olds. She has the liveliness of adolescence. But life changes us. It transforms us. We have children, we can have depression, go through a divorce, change careers.
“When I was 21, I did a show with DKC Freeze. I said to him: “Me, I am a B-Boy for life!” He was in his late thirties. He told me to calm down, that he had seen lots of other dancers with my energy leaving the middle. Keeping the passion through the life events that strike you is not given to everyone. »
“Aging in the world of street dance always interested me. I have always admired the wisdom in the gestures of those who have more experience. They manage to do a lot with a little. »
This admiration for his predecessors, Crazy Smooth attributes in particular to his Beninese origins. “With us, seniors are expensive. We listen to them. There is a lesson to be learned from their experience. It is the same in the breaking, which is a culture of blacks and Latinos. We respect elders. Here it is not the same. Elders are often pushed aside, without dignity in my opinion. They must be part of our society. »
In My Body is presented at the Salle Ludger-Duvernay of the Monument-National on June 2, 3 and 4.
Who is Crazy Smooth?
Yvon Soglo of his real name. Is a choreographer, dancer, trainer and teacher. He practices the street dance since 1997.
Aged 43, he founded the Bboyizm company in 2004, of which he is also artistic director.
He is a regular judge at streetdance competitions held in North America and Europe.
Originally from Benin, he arrived in Quebec as a refugee and is now a resident of Gatineau.