Four dancers. Four solo's. Four cultures. One choreographer.

The inexhaustibly creative Japanese dancer and choreographer Kenzo Kusuda is a unique phenomenon in the world of dance. His performances and dance style are personal, poetic, and often breathtakingly intense. With Flora, Lucifer, Nebula, Dew, Kenzo presents a new program for which he collaborated with four completely different dancers hailing from China, India, Bolivia, and Senegal. Moved by natural phenomena and memories, he created a solo with each dancer; together, these will be presented in one full-length program.

Alioune Diagne

Age  29

I was born in Saint-Louis, Senegal (West Africa)

I live in Saint-Louis, Senegal

My life motto is Only work will pay and what you reap is what you sow

When I sit on my terrace I see the river Senegal and the city centre of Saint-Louis. Behind me is the Atlantic Ocean with the fishermen who are going out to fish.

How would you describe Kenzo Kenzo is a person who is very modest and positive, full of emotions, and with a strong presence in the here and now.

Describe the first time you met Kenzo  I was walking to the Korzo 5 Hoog building with my girlfriend when we saw Kenzo in the street. My girlfriend introduced me to Kenzo, it was snowing very hard with a strong cold wind, and I only saw Kenzo’s face. Then we walked together to the gate of Korzo, where we would start our first day of rehearsal together.

Could you tell something about the piece that you are making with Kenzo The piece has a very soft but strong sphere, its very sensitive and touches the soul with a music that begins as if it touches your skin, then pierces it, and finally leaves the body in the end.

What do you bring from your own culture into the piece Of my dance culture I bring the energy , the power, the endurance and the joy. Last June, Kenzo came to Senegal to the fourth edition of my festival “Duo Solo Danse”. He performed his duet “Moisture Rocket” with Mireia de Querol Duran and we made an adaptation of “Flora” around a swimming pool. It was very special to perform Flora in my hometown and to see Kenzo exchange through dance with the senegalese dance culture.