For the first time in France, the company El Warsha, a troupe of artists straight from Upper Egypt, presents the art of stick dance in its show In the circle of the men of the Nile. The performances, which last until March 18, alternate traditional music, dance and jousting in the Claude Levi Schtrauss theater of the musée du quai Branly.
Halfway between dance and martial art, the baton dances of Upper Egypt speak of everyday life, but also of struggles and unity.
In a stripped-down setting where light serves as a scenography, we find ourselves in the golden and sunny sand atmosphere of the Egyptian desert. There resonates the sound of percussion (derbouka, doholla, douf, bendir, 'alba, sagat) mixed with mizmar (a kind of trumpet) and strings with the rababa. The men step forward, turning and twirling their long wooden sticks. The choreographies follow one another, each telling a different story. The men gauge each other, the clashing of sticks sounds, then silence and darkness.
The art of the stick is a centuries-old heritage whose Bedouin origins are influenced by Egyptian high antiquity. In a funerary temple, paintings representing training of soldiers whose poses are identical to certain movements always present in the choreographies.
In 1h45 of show, the Egyptian troupe, visibly delighted to perform on stage, manages to transmit its enthusiasm to the room and it is not uncommon to see the audience shake. The show ends in apotheosis when artists and audience mingle to dance.
