Rave Lucid by MazelFreten: electro generation

Popularized by its participation in the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the MazelFreten company shows Rave Lucidhis latest opus, at Chaillot – Théâtre national de la danse, in the middle of a long tour throughout France.

Bass pushed to the maximum, club lights, the twelve dancers of Mazelfreten make us dive headfirst into their world, between hip-hop battle and electro dance. The company was in fact created in 2016 by Brandon Miel Masele and Laura Nala Defretin, both having cut their teeth in the world of battles, he on the electro side, she on the hip-hop side.

With crazy energy in fascinating unisons, where rapid and repetitive arm movements set a frenetic rhythm, these boys and girls combine their personalities to form a united group. However, after these collective sequences where physical expenditure is maximum, the calmer sequences leave a more mixed feeling. Indeed, the show does not really offer dramaturgy that would allow us to touch on the homage to club culture mentioned in the program. The dance does not draw any stakes between the characters, which would arouse emotion or reveal some rough edges or elements of surprise.

It must be recognized that monolithic music, a real steamroller, leaves no room for improvisation or side steps for the dancers. Not sparing their energy, the dancers are in a pure demonstration of their virtuosity, keeping for themselves the state of trance which could and should circulate between the members of the group.

For these magnificent dancers to be able to give their best, there would need to be an outside perspective or choreography that allows them to go beyond what they already know how to produce. An exciting challenge to take on for this generation of performers!

Photographic credits: © JonathanGodson and © JonathanLutumba-Viascent

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)