An Immigrant’s Story is a solo performance combining dance, spoken word and personal testimony. Drawing on her journey between Kenya, the United States and Europe, choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu explores migration, belonging and the experience of being perceived as “the other.” Inspired by her own story and a collection of interviews with people from diverse migration backgrounds, the work blends humour, satire and intimate storytelling to question identity, privilege and who has the power to define where we belong.
“Having lived on three different continents – Africa, North America and Europe – has provided me the privileged space and time to absorb diverse cultures and worldviews” – Wanjiru Kamuyu, Bessie Award winner 2024 for ‘Outstanding Choreographer’.
Tickets: €12/ €15
Under 18s free
PRESS
“How can one not be won over by the intelligent foresight projected with so much conviction and sincerity?" - Yves Kafka, La Revue du Spectacle
“[The] performance… manages to load the room with reminders and new insights into a history and contemporary of racism, colonialism, sexism, migration and homesickness - all embodied through Wanjiru Kamuyu's autobiographical dance” - Sara Meidell, VK, Sweden
Watch trailer here
https://vimeo.com/1210486693
The Collection of Stories : Wanjiru Kamuyu collected stories from people with diverse migration experiences, creating a body of material that became central to the research and composition process of the work. Listen and contribute here:
Choreographer and performer: Wanjiru Kamuyu
Dramaturge and producer: Dirk Korell
Texts: Laetitia Ajanohun
Translation of texts: Sarah Cardova & Wanjiru Kamuyu
Music composition: LACRYMOBOY
With the voices of: Sherwood Chen, David Gaulein-Stef, Naïs Haidar,Karine Hanselmann, Wanjiru Kamuyu, Dirk Korell, Crystal Petit, Monika Schwarzl, Sean Seago and the stories of Tout-Monde
Light design: Cyril Mulon
Costume design: Birgit Neppl
Production intern: Yvan-Loïc Kamdem Djoko
Special thanks to: Robyn Orlin, Jean Gaudin and David Gaulein-Stef
Executive production: camin aktion
Co-production
Espace 1789 de Saint-Ouen, scène conventionnée de Saint-Ouen
La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux • La Rochelle
L’échangeur – CDCN Hauts-de-France
Musée National de l’Histoire de l’Immigration
Théâtre de la Ville – Paris
L’Onde Théâtre Centre d’Art, Scène Conventionnée d’Intérêt National – Art et Création pour la Danse
micadanses, Paris
Funding
Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d’Île-de-France
Région Ile-de-France
SPEDIDAM
Institut Français
Residencies
Direction des Affaires Culturelles de la Ville d’Aubervilliers – Espace Renaudie
SUBS, Lyon, Saison 2019-20
Partnership – residencies
L’échangeur – CDCN Hauts-de-France
La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux • La Rochelle
La Place de la Danse – CDCN Toulouse/Occitanie
Partnership – studio space
Atelier de Paris / Centre de développement chorégraphique national
Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers
CN D Centre national de la danse, Pantin
micadanses, Paris (as part of a specific partnership)
