Näss (People) - Fouad Boussouf

What happens when the raw energy of 1970s Moroccan music meets the visceral pulse of contemporary hip hop? In Näss (People), choreographer Fouad Boussouf orchestrates a high-octane encounter between seven men, blending traditional North African rhythms with fierce, urban movement. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Moroccan Gnawa musical pioneers Nass el Ghiwane, Boussouf finds a powerful analogy in hip hop’s own quest for identity and roots. The performance is a profound, hypnotic rite; a sacred commotion that bridges cultural heritage with modern, unbridled expression. On stage, the performers confront one another through a stack of diverse techniques, each dancer fiercely committed to his own unique style and strength. Boussouf masterfully orchestrates this group dynamic, keeping the audience on edge through an unending evolution of movement. Infused with the nuances and colors of his native Morocco, where the company retreated during rehearsals to find the work's pulse, the choreography seamlessly weaves urban dance styles into a grand, trance-like experience. “The story of the famous 70s Maghreb Moroccan group Nass el Ghiwane was an important element in inspiring me to create this work. The lyrics and language they used reminded me of the strange link they had to popular protests of that time, and the rap and hip hop culture of that time in the United States. In their lyrics, I found strong hip hop vibes involving ancestral traditions, which are still valid and alive. I created Näss like a breath, physical and mystical, reminding me how essential it is to remain anchored to the earth, feeling its vibrations.” - Fouad Boussouf Event Duration 1 hour and 27 minutes Performance : 57 minutes Q&A : 30 minutes Age Restriction Age Restriction : 10+ Meet the Artist: Fouad Boussouf (Artistic Director and Choreographer) For Fouad Boussouf, dance is pure impulse, momentum, movement. These words also define his artistic journey, driven by his innate curiosity and his desire to escape. His early years in Morocco, living in an isolated village in the region of Moulay Idriss, were filled with festive family events and a natural environment of clean, monastic simplicity. When Fouad was seven, his family moved to France, to Romilly-sur-Seine, near Troyes, and he stepped into a new universe, in which he had to learn quickly about culture and societal codes. As a teenager he began doing hip hop to cassettes by Prince and Michael Jackson; the form was initially considered a socially acceptable physical exercise, but for him hip hop became the building blocks for his personal style of movement, in which the body’s will to exceed, to go farther – brought him recognition from his peers. He finished his education in Chalons-en-Champagne, where he also took workshops led by the circus students from the CNAC (the National Center for Circus Arts). He moved to Paris in 2000 and began studying social sciences at the University of Paris XII in Créteil, where he also taught classes in street dance, first informally, then as an accredited teacher. He continued s