Radhouane El Meddeb

Trained at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Tunis, Radhouane El Meddeb has worked with Fadhel Jaîbi, Taoufik Jebali, and Mohamed Driss, before developing his choreographic world in France and creating his first show in 2005, Pour en finir avec MOI (The End of MOI), a solo taking the form of an intimate introspective journey. After many dramatic collaborations, choosing to move from theatre to dance, he created several solos, such as Quelqu'un va danser... (Someone will dance...) and Je danse et je vous en donne à bouffer (I dance and give you to eat). In 2010, he created his first group show, Ce que nous sommes (What we are), before becoming artist associated with the Centquatre in Paris in 2011. He then created a solo in collaboration with choreographer Thomas Lebrun and, in 2014, a second group show, Au temps où les arabes dansaient (Back when Arabs danced)... In 2015 and 2016, he created Heroes, prelude and Heroes, as well as a tribute to his father. Tackling questions about exile, absence, and solitude, the choreographer felt the visceral need to explore his double culture and the rupture at its heart by creating Facing the sea, for tears to turn into laughter with Tunisian artists. Radhouane El Meddeb will be appearing for the first time at the Festival d'Avignon.  

Portrait of Radhouane El Meddeb © portrait Olivier Roller