Laaroussa Quartet

Laaroussa Quartet explores the ability of the gesture to create connections, to transform matter, and transcend social, cultural, and geographical boundaries. In 2011, Sofiane and Selma Ouissi travelled to Sejnane, in northern Tunisia, to meet women potters who pass down an ancestral knowledge from mother to daughter: the shaping of clay dolls, or Laaroussa. This encounter led to the creation of a choreographic score, performed by the two choreographer-dancers, who view the gestures of those craftswomen as an aesthetic experience. They now revisit this original piece, passing it on to four female dancers. A new creation that explores the body as a site of memory and transformation, Laaroussa Quartet is part of their vision for a “dreamed society,”, where the gesture, both fragile and powerful, becomes an act of resistance.

عمل إبداعي كوريغرافي ووثائقي يسلّط الضوء على مهارات النساء صانعات الفخار بمنطقة سجنان، تونس: عندما تصبح الحركة رمزا للمقاومة. 

interview with selma et sofiane ouissi

With Amanda Barrio Charmelo, Sondos Belhassen, Marina Delicado, Moya Michael, Chedlia Saïdani, Aisha Orazbayeva

Conception, dramaturgy and choreography Selma et Sofiane Ouissi 
Sound and musical dramaturgy Tom Pauwels 
Musical composition Aisha Orazbayeva  
Musical mixing composition Peiman Khosravi 
Scenography and lighting Simon Siegmann 
Sound design and mixing Raphaël Hénard 
Video conception Nicola Sburlati 
Image Cecil Thuillier, Pierre Déjon 
Video sound recording Jonathan Le Fourn 
Costume Sabrina Seifried 
Research, transcription, and poetry translation Basma El Euchi
Research Ophélie Naessens
General stage manager Mohamed Hedi Belkhir 

Women potters of Sejnane - immersion and transmission of ancestral gestures to performers:
Sabiha Ayari, Aljia Saïdani, Chedia Saidani, Cherifa Saïdani, Emna Saïdani, Habiba Saïdani, Lamia Saïdani, Jemaa Selmi. 

Women potters of Sejnane in the video:
Malika Saïdani, Naïma Saïdani, Najia Saïdani, Habiba Saïdani, Naziha Jemiï, Hada Riahi, Dalila Riahi, Sabiha Mechergui, Naïma Chatti, Fatma Saïdani, Sassia Riahi, Sabiha Saïdani, Fadhila Saïdani, Dalila Wassila Saïdani, Hanen Saïdani, Halima Maalaoui, Cherifa Riahi, Houda Jemiï, Aïda Jemiï, Aïcha Rebeh Jemiï, Aziza jemiï, Aljia Jmii, Hajer Saïdani, Sassia Saïdani, Fatma Saïdani, Habiba Saïdani, Habiba Saliha Saïdani, Sabiha Ayari, Safia Saïdani, Halima Saïdani, Aljia Saïdani, Jemâa Selmi, Cherifa Saïdani, Lamia Saïdani, Hadda Saïdani, Jannet Ghouili, Salouha Saïdani, Hada Saïda Saïdani, Jannet Saïdani, Hidhba Saïdani, Khaoula Saïdani, Habiba Ayari, Saliha Saïdani, Emna Saïdani, Salha Stili, Naziha Saïdani, Sabiha Saïdani, Maryam Saïdani, Fadhila Saïdani, Tounes Saïdani, Radhia Maalaoui, Kaouther Saïdani, Zina Mechergui

Production Dream City 2025 / L’Art Rue
Co-production Festival d’Avignon, Charleroi danse Centre chorégraphique de Wallonie-Bruxelles, Ictus Ensemble, KVS (Bruxelles), Théâtre National Tunisien, la Sharjah Art Foundation and the Fondation Heinrich Böll Stiftung (Tunis)

Performances in partnership with France Médias Monde

Les Mutuelles d’assurances et le Groupe AXA, Grands mécènes de l’édition 2025 du Festival d’Avignon.