SHANGWE*, le bal
An inclusive celebration imagined by Wanjiru Kamuyu
Creation 2025/26
Approx. 160 minutes
Suitable for all audiences, 8 years +
Immersive & participative
At the heart of this project are the voices of women anchored in the idea of joy as an act of peaceful activism, an act of resistance, resilience and of dreaming. The project is deeply rooted in the cultural inspirations of East Africa, and conceived as a vibrant, inclusive, and socially engaged celebration—a space where bodies, rhythms, voices, and sign language converge to tell stories and spark festive, collective reflection.
“With this big participatory party, I offer an immersive experience that celebrates dance as a powerful vector for joy, resilience, hope and human connection. The project gleans into the inspiring cultural richness of my birth region, East Africa. In collaboration with choreographers from Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya, SHANGWE, le bal is a celebratory and participatory space where participants will dance together to a beautifully crafted socially engaged musical repertory, rich in the traditions and contemporary sounds of East Africa, as well as other cultures in Africa and from her diaspora.
I want to create a moment of togetherness that centers the pleasure of harmonious gathering anchored in movement and voice as vectors to stimulate joy and well-being. SHANGWE, le bal is a call to be fully present, to foster genuine interactions with one another, and of prioritizing community connection over the isolation brought on by addictive screen culture and the endless stream of global news.
Today, social skills—especially amongst younger generations—are increasingly fragile, and loneliness has reached unprecedented levels as direct consequences of screen dependency, the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic, and widespread anxiety about a dystopian future. We are living in a system that encourages violent societal division through binary logic; where nuance, dissent, and diversity no longer seem to be valued. Genuine human interactions have never been so diminished.
SHANGWE, le bal seeks to create a pocket of joy—a moment to reconnect with what matters most: human relationships, shared happiness, and a safe and supported space where we can collectively dream, hope, release and celebrate our resilience in harmony.”
Wanjiru Kamuyu
Choreography and music research | Wanjiru Kamuyu in collaboration with Halima Masoud Abdallah, Predictor Lodenyi aka Pretty, Joyeux Nstinzi
Performers | Wanjiru Kamuyu, Elodie Paul, David Gaulein-Stef alternating with Nelly Célérine
DJ | Rokia Bamba
Artistic associate | David Gaulein-Stef
Lighting design | Cyril Mulon
Production | camin aktion
Co-production | CCNN – Centre Chorégraphie National de Nantes, direction Ambra Senatore
Support | With the support of Ménagerie de verre as part of the StudioLab program.
In the Summer/Fall 2025, the phase of the creation was developed in residency at CCN Nantes (France). We focused on the creation of the text, music and choreographic research, as well as audience engagement. November 2025, previews were programmed at the CCN Nantes (France).
In 2026, a new series of residencies will be used to integrate a DJ and a sign language performer into the project. In collaboration with the DJ a musical scenography score will be created. With the sign language performer, the language will be interwoven into the choreographic tapestry of the creation. For this second phase, the company is currently and actively seeking co-production partnerships and residency opportunities.
Copyright photos © Bastien Capela, David Gaulein-Stef, Dirk Korell