UNDERDOG CITY
Short film | Duration: 18 min | 2024 Artist-in-residence program in Ivry-sur-Seine (2023-2024) around the show Underdogs
UNDERDOG CITY draws on the central figure of the Statue of Liberty to question the notions of liberty, universalism and cultural integration. It draws parallels between the current societal issues at stake in Western countries (globalization, standardization of values, post-colonial issues) and the cultural challenges that are revealed by the gentrification of hip-hop culture and the transformation of this anti-establishment and liberating social movement into an academic body language.
The film revisits a central portion of the choreographic show Underdogs, while putting the spotlight on several groups of inhabitants of the city of Ivry-sur-Seine, who are filmed alongside the dancers from the show in several emblematic sites of the city. Dancers from the shows Matière(s) première(s) and Heracles on his head are filmed besides the inhabitants, whom they coached during this yearly artist-in-residence program. UNDERDOG CITY was initiated by the city of Ivry-sur-Seine, in partnership with la briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne, as part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad.
UNDERDOG CITY is Anne Nguyen’s second short film, after Épicentre (2021), which questions the concept of cultural appropriation.
CAST
Scenario, text, direction and choreography: Anne Nguyen Directed by: Anne Nguyen and Greg Kozo Film soundtrack: Sébastien Lété — Big Kick, adaptation from the show Autarcie (….)’s original soundtrack (remix by Greg Kozo) Film credits soundtrack: Greg Kozo Dancers from the show Underdogs: Sonia Bel Hadj Brahim aka “SonYa”, Arnaud Duprat aka “AAron EVO”, Pascal Luce aka “Scalp Dancers from the show Matière(s) première(s): Mark-Wilfried Kouadio aka “Willy Kazzama”, Grâce Tala Dancers from the show Heracles on his head: Janice Bieleu aka “J-Nice” Images: Greg Kozo, Alexandre Lancelle Drone: Cédric Nussli Editing: Mohamed Bouhiya, Anne Nguyen Post-production: Mohamed Bouhiya Location managers: Kevin Sambé, Arthur Behe
PARTICIPANTS
Dancers from Conservatoire Municipal de Musique et de Danse de la Ville d’Ivry-sur-Seine: Apolline Cassegrain, Adèle Dariel, Amandine Fievet, Dominique Guerrini, Nathalie Hu, Kenza Gabrielle Kouaho, Adeoumi Kouchanou aka “OUMY”, Lou Petit, Romane Potyralo, Sonia Voglozin Dancers from the hip-hop section of l’Union Sportive d’Ivry-sur-Seine (USI): David Cécé, Neïla Oukach Dancers from Maisons Municipales de Quartier d’Ivry-sur-Seine | Kids / youth: Sana Beldjilali, Louise Belkhami, Camélia Bidjou, Lina Boukeroui, Selma Boukeroui, Djeneba Coulibaly, Nour Awa Diop Sacko, Mariam Koita, Oumou Konate, Hawa Magassa, Kylliah Moutoucarpin, Zela Charlot Ouattara, Fatoumata Soukouna, Jenna Wandji Dancers from Maisons Municipales de Quartier d’Ivry-sur-Seine | Adults: Patricia Chaupe, Nacéra Giudoum, Maryline Lefebvre, Annie Lepeytre, Najat Mosta, Éléonore Ngassa Heukam, Marie-Georges Rodap, Nabia Zeumouche
PRODUCTION
Production: par Terre / Anne Nguyen Dance Company Production team: Constance Renger, Anaïs Nguyen Khac, Edwige Blondeaut, Mona Kaabi, Marie Archimbaud With the support of: – The entire team of la briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne especially Myriam Boughanem, Emmanuelle David, Arina Dolgikh, Constance Duret, Julien Filoche, Mathilde Galinou, Nicolas Gilles, Thelma Omasson, as well as Delphine Blondet, Christine Fouilleul, Maud Hoffmann, Mélanie Jegatheesan & Sandra Neuveut – La Direction des Affaires Culturelles de la Ville d’Ivry-sur-Seine: Marianne Revoy, Louis Plat, Sandy Dequivre – La Direction des Sports de la Ville d’Ivry-sur-Seine: Sophie Daudet, Amine Fathallah, Kamel Adjout, Nathalie Panzo Coproduction: A project initiated by the city of Ivry-sur-Seine, in partnership with la briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne, as part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad. Funded by la Ville d’Ivry-sur-Seine, La Métropole du Grand Paris, le Département du Val-de-Marne, la DRAC Île-de-France and la Région Île-de-France.
