Karima El Amrani
Compagnie Smitten

What is the starting point of this project?
AJAR is about listening, which was born out of a desire to explore the gap between reality and interpretation.

What is its specific feature?
Julius Eastman’s voice becomes a driving force in the choreography without any intention of illustration. Whilst exploring the emergence of collective action, the piece highlights the distances between bodies, and the possible misunderstandings that can arise.

Why participate in the Danse élargie competition?
The competition allows us to rediscover the piece in a new form and to continue to embody the principles that drive it.

Trained in Aurillac and at the CNSMD in Paris, Karima El Amrani has danced with Hofesh Shechter, Christoph Winkler, Clod Ensemble, Myriam Gourfink and Dalila Belaza, amongst others, and currently works with Damien Jalet and Guilhem Chatir. In 2018, she founded the Smitten company.

Credits

CONCEPT AND CHORÉGRAPHIE

Karima El Amrani

MUSICS

Julius Eastman‘s Spoken Introduction to the Northwestern University Concert - Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet - Gavin Bryars

DRAMATURGY

Hanna El Fakir

COSTUMES

Johanna Faye

LIGHTS

Alice Dussart
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WITH

Maëva Berthelot, Karima El Amrani, Margot Jude
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PRODUCTION

Compagnie Smitten

COPRODUCTION

Théâtre d’Aurillac, Boom’Structur-CDCN, La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand - scène nationale

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

CN D Paris, Carreau du Temple - Paris, micadanses-Paris, compagnie Accrorap - direction Kader Attou, Scène Découvertes danse - désoblique I Le Croiseur, DRAC AURA, aide au projet 2026, La Fabrique de la Danse. Pour la saison 2025/2026, la compagnie Smitten est accompagnée par Boom’Structur-CDCN dans le cadre du dispositif « Embras(s)ez l’avenir »

THANKS TO

to Christoph Winkler for introducing me to Eastman’s work almost ten years ago now.

Sequence 3 - 16:45

➔Indoors