EQUIPE ARTISTIQUE
MARLÈNE MYRTIL
Choreographer
Marlène began her career as a performer-dancer in 1991, she received her contemporary dance training by taking classes and workshops with Bill T Jones, the Cunningham School and Peter Goss. She also received training in hip hop, African dance, composition with Julyen Hamilton, yoga and qi gong. Marlène worked with choreographers and artistic directors from vary dance disciplines ; Germaine Acogny, Josiane Antourel, Max Laure Bourjolly, Maurice Béjart, Jean François Duroure, Marianne Isson, Jean-Marie Maddeddu, Irène Tassembédo. From 2003 to 2014, Marlène was the co-founding director and a performer of the Lmno company, a street theater dance company. In 2016, she participates in the workshops series of the the centre national de la Danse entitled «Edition Spéciale».
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In 1998, Marlène created Kameleonite company. Her pieces expose her profound view, poetry and political consideration of the Carribean area. They include Tangente, solo (1998) ; Lunathek, for young audience (2001) ; Chronique nomade, duet (2003) ; Bal d’antan, performance in duet, (2008) ; Assentiments, triptych (2006-2008) ; Imperissable, lecture and performance (2009) ; De Yabassi à Bizy, duet (2010-2011) ; Totem, solo (2011) ; Blues ecarlate quartette (2012) ; Principe de précaution (2014) co created with Back Art Diffusion, Myriam Soulanges ; Impérissable Trajectoires marines (2015), 1+1 (2017-2018) focusing on father/son relationships ; PaSSaGe(s), sites pecifics dance (2019-2020) and Chroniques agricoles (2020-21).
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Since Marlène graduated as a dance teacher, and was trained for the "Danse at school" process, she has created and participated in different forms of artistic and teaching productions, where ethnic and urban dances are introduced to the contemporary field. Since 2002, Marlene has been introducing dance in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. Since 2012, she has been leading composition workshops for an audience of female non dancers.
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In her approach to dance, Marlene uses somatic and therapeutic practices. She is a graduate of the FFST and has been practicing shiatsu since 2009. In 2013, she completed a Qi Gong teaching program in the Parisian school Les temps du Corps. In 2016, she is a graduate of the Union Pro Qi Gong federation.
In 2018, Marlène received a teacher training in vinyasa flow yoga at Laughing Lotus New York, she is certified by Yoga Allianz - 200 hours RYT-.
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JEAN-MICHEL GARRAUD
Dancer - performer
Jean Michel Garraud, "Joss" is a choreographer, dancer-performer. Self-taught and versatile, he has expertise in the fields of hip hop and breakdancing. More than a profession, dance is for him a vocation and a sharing of his knowledge with young audiences and professional dancers.
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From the American continent (Canada, United States) to Europe (England, France, Germany) via the Caribbean (Martinique, Dominica) Jean-Michel has been part of productions of shows, battles and exchanges, giving him adaptability and multiple experiences.
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Since 2014, he has actively participated in the dynamism and representativeness of hip hop dance in Martinique. He is a member of the Zion B bboys who presented their latest creation “Chut, je vis” at the Tropiques Atrium in 2019-2020.
DEBORAH LARY
Dancer - performer
Passionate, committed and demanding, Deborah LARY, originally from Martinique, has been an interpreter for more than 15 years for Myriam Gourfink, with whom she was able to develop her taste for writing and precision work combined with an in-depth practice of yoga.
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In parallel to this engagement with Myriam Gourfink, she meets Les Gens d'Uterpan who will also be a turning point in her conception of the interpretation and the engagement of the artist. She will be one of the dancers who will perform 4 hours a day for 4 months at the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale in 2007. This experience will considerably influence these artistic choices and her positioning as a performer.
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Since these two decisive encounters in 2005 with Myriam Gourfink and the Gens D'Uterpan, she has continued to collaborate with them but also has other favorite encounters. This is the case of Kirsten Debrock for whom she will make 6 creations including a solo “One”. She will also cross the universes of Françoise Tartanville, Patrick Le Doare and Olivier Dubois.
FRANCIS SAINT-ALBIN
Dancer - performer
Francis Saint-Albin, “Madak“ is born Martinique and has been practicing hip hop dance since 1995.
Founder of the Zion B-boys group in 2012, Francis teaches dance and choreography in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti and Canada. He works with Stella Moutou and the Toronto Creole Ballet.
In 2018, he performed 1 + 1 of the Kaméléonite company. In 2019, he co-wrote the first choreographic creation of Zion B-boys Chut, je viv .
As a graduate of Sivananda Vedanta school in 2016, Francis regularly practices and teaches hatha yoga.
PASCAL SERALINE
Dancer - performer
Pascal Séraline began training as a dancer in 1986 at Sermac in Martinique, which he continued in France at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Lyon until 1992. He holds the state diploma of dance teacher.
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He is a dancer and performer with many choreographers: Christiane Emmanuel, Josiane Antourel, Derek Williams, Josette Baïz, Régine Chopinot, Andy Degroat, Fabienne Abramovich… From 1997 to 2016, he worked regularly in Europe. He joined the Theater de la Ville de Saarbruecken where he danced and choreographed for 11 years.
Back in Martinique in 2017, from 2018, he performed 1 + 1 of the company Kaméléonite, created the solo man coco, taught contemporary dance in Fort-de-France. In 2019, he worked for the Thomas Lebrun company.
MYRIAM SOULANGES
Choreographer - Dancer - performer
Back Art Diffusion
Myriam Soulanges finds her influences in different aesthetics, contemporary dance and urban cultures. She calls herself: neighborhood dancer, racialized woman of Caribbean origin.
After university studies, she joined a professional training program offered by Rick Odums in Paris, obtained her state diploma in jazz dance in 1998 and then taught at the Salle Pleyel and in the Paris suburbs. Her choreographic career is part of a self-taught approach in Guadeloupe where she has been developing her artistic projects from 2010, the year of creation of the Back Art Diffusion association.
Winner of the competition for emerging choreographers in the Caribbean, with the duo Alé é rivé created in 2010, she
from the outset orientates its work on identity issues: gender, geographic and cultural. In 2012, the piece Mika, local time is a continuation in this approach of a mixed culture with its fashions, its musical styles, its expressions and its popularity codes.
In 2014, she co-signed with the Martinican choreographer Marlène Myrtil the piece Principe de Précaution. With the Ivorian choreographer Abdoulaye Trésor Konaté, in 2018 they created Nothing to Approach, a duet on the otherness, the difference and the singularity of the two performers. In 2018, with the choreographer Anne Meyer and the visual artist Guy Gabon, the Yué # sorority project invites about twenty women to co-write an in situ performance, around the notion of departure.
In 2019, Myriam Soulanges was selected by the Fabrique de la Danse for the Les femmes sont là program. This support aims to promote and improve the visibility of female choreographic paths. Mickaël Phelippeau, met in Cuba, agreed to be his choreographer “mentor” in this device.
Mickaël Phelippeau accompanies Myriam Soulanges as an external look on his solo, Cover (creation 2021). Myriam was selected for continuing education Special Edition # 4 organized by the CND Pantin and the Belle Ouvrage, in 2020. This edition deals with the process of choreographic creation, composition, dramaturgy but also the career of the artist and his responsibilities as project leader.
CHANTAL THINE
Dancer - performer
Immigrated to Quebec in 1999, it was on the Latin and Brazilian Canadian stages that Chantal Thine made her debut in 2003. Her passion for Afro-Brazilian culture and dances regularly leads her to improve her skills in Brazil with several masters. At the same time, she continued her training in contemporary African dance while working as a Kinesiologist and instructor in the form trades. In 2010 she co-created and choreographed for the company Chicaboom Entertainment.
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In 2013, with the choreographer Julienne Doko, she made her debut on the contemporary scene. During the 2014 - 2015 season, she made a rich entry onto the Martinican scene with choreographer Josiane Antourel and the company Art & Fact. In a therapeutic research of the body through movement, she obtained the diploma of the Ann McMillan Pilates Method and the Tao Hands certification. From his meeting with David Milôme, choreographer of MD Company, the duo Une de perdue… une de perdue? in 2017. In a continuous search for a balance between body and mind, Chantal Thine continues her explorations between energy and dance with a concern for sharing and authenticity
JEAN-FELIX ZAÏRE
Dancer - performer
After scientific studies, Jean-Félix Zaïre began his dance training in 1992 with Josiane Antourel. In 1994, he joined Christiane Emmanuelle's company, then Marie's company Pierre Aranzana. Thanks to the Sermac, Jean Félix studies African dance, traditional dance and modern dance.
In 1996, he graduated in contemporary dance and made the choice to stay in Martinique in order to teach this discipline which he developed at Le Marin, Sainte Luce and Le Saint Esprit. Rich in his encounters with many Cuban, French, Belgian, American and West Indian choreographers, he signed his first creation hosted by the Cmac during the Dance Biennial in Martinique in 2004.
In 2010, he created “Instants de vie” then “Rhizomes” in 2018. At the same time, he directs the amateur dance troupe “Contemp'danse”.
Since 2013, Jean-Félix has been working with municipalities to create spaces for free expression that question the dance movement, promote encounters and stimulate the next generation ...
RITA RAVIER
Dancer - performer
After scientific studies, Jean-Félix Zaïre began his dance training in 1992 with Josiane Antourel. In 1994, he joined Christiane Emmanuelle's company, then Marie's company Pierre Aranzana. Thanks to the Sermac, Jean Félix studies African dance, traditional dance and modern dance.
In 1996, he graduated in contemporary dance and made the choice to stay in Martinique in order to teach this discipline which he developed at Le Marin, Sainte Luce and Le Saint Esprit. Rich in his encounters with many Cuban, French, Belgian, American and West Indian choreographers, he signed his first creation hosted by the Cmac during the Dance Biennial in Martinique in 2004.
In 2010, he created “Instants de vie” then “Rhizomes” in 2018. At the same time, he directs the amateur dance troupe “Contemp'danse”.
Since 2013, Jean-Félix has been working with municipalities to create spaces for free expression that question the dance movement, promote encounters and stimulate the next generation ...
JÉSIKA ORSINET
Jésika is a Martinican dancer with an eclectic background, reflecting the cultural and artistic influences she has experienced. Cultures from African sources weave the common thread that she will follow in her experiences as a performer and choreographer: from West African dances to Caribbean dances, from the Dunham technique to contemporary dance, she expresses herself in both traditional and modern forms.
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She was a performer in the companies of choreographers Chrysogone Diangouaya, Moustapha Bangoura, Max Diakok, Hubert Petit-Phar and Delphine Cammal, Chantal Loïal…
At the same time, she develops her choreographic writing in her company, around themes linked to otherness, femininity and the black condition. She articulates her research around bèlè while drawing on the various influences that have marked her. Live music, improvisation, visual and literary arts occupy an essential place in his creations.
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As a teacher and speaker, she uses dance as mediation in professional training, educational and socio-cultural contexts, or even in helping relationships.
Since 2016, she has also been working within the university framework in the anthropology of dance, and is interested in dances from black cultures, from the points of view of heritage legacies, contemporary practices and their place in societies. She is currently conducting doctoral research on decolonial perspectives in Martinican choreographic creation.