Nashville, Tenn. – January 18, 2023 – Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville today announced Compagnie Hervé Koubi will take the stage with its astonishingly kinetic performance What the Day Owes to the Night, choreographed by French-Algerian artist Hervé Koubi, on February 2-4.
Described as a “creation of poetic beauty” by The New York Times, What the Day Owes to the Night is a highly-physical production with explosive movement and powerful imagery to, metaphorically, retrace Koubi’s family history. Throughout Koubi’s life, he believed his family originated in France; however, at 25 years old, his father, while on his deathbed, sent Koubi on a wholesome and artistic journey to the truth. The story of What the Day Owes to the Night explores Koubi’s revelation of his family’s Algerian heritage, captured impeccably by Compagnie Hervé Koubi’s 12 all male French-Algerian and African male dancers who deliver shockingly athletic, high-velocity choreography throughout the piece.
“We’re thrilled to host Compagnie Hervé Koubi in Nashville and introduce the community to the work of one of Europe’s most distinctive and expressive choreographers,” says Mark Murphy, OZ Arts Executive and Artistic Director. “This performance serves as a magnificent journey of exploration and legacy, and we’re honored to kick off our international spring series with Koubi’s Nashville debut here on the OZ Arts stage.”
Compagnie Hervé Koubi is a brotherhood composed of internationally-acclaimed performers who combine expertise in capoeira, martial arts, hip-hop and contemporary styles. What The Day Owes To The Night exudes contagious energy and powerful imagery that pays homage to Sufi traditions and Islamic architecture. With gravity-defying athleticism and mesmerizing grace, the dynamic choreography draws audiences into a world of human architecture, diving bodies and mesmerizing whirlwinds, with musical pieces composed by Hamza El Din and performed by the Kronos Quartet.
Koubi, born in Cannes, was raised in France and graduated from the University of Aix-en-Provence as a pharmaceutical doctor after studying biology and dance. Koubi traces his life history and magnifies links between cultures in What The Day Owes To The Night, where he correlates his French upbringing to his actual roots in Algeria.
OZ Arts will present What The Day Owes To The Night from February 2-4 in its expansive warehouse. Tickets begin at $25 and are on sale now at the following link.
This performance is presented in part support from donors and grants, including the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission, and media sponsorship from the Nashville Scene. To learn more about upcoming performances at OZ, please visit www.ozartsnashville.org.
TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION
Performances:
Thursday, February 2 at 8:00pm
Friday, February 3 at 8:00pm
Saturday, February 4 at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25-$45
Seating is general admission and tickets are available for purchase at ozartsnashville.org.
About OZ Arts Nashville
Founded in 2013 by the Ozgener family, OZ Arts Nashville has quickly established itself as one of the Southeast's most influential and respected producers and presenters focused on the creation and presentation of significant performing and visual artworks by diverse cultural visionaries who are making vital contributions to the evolution of contemporary culture. Through performances, exhibitions, and community events, OZ Arts focuses on producing and presenting the work of local and visiting artists who reflect our diverse society, utilize new artistic forms and technology in creative ways, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with audiences, students and cultural and civic leaders. OZ Arts' unique creative warehouse has developed a reputation as a major national and regional laboratory for experimentation and a home for contemporary dance and performance. More than 50,000 audience members have been introduced to adventurous artists from around the world since the organization opened, and hundreds of local and regional artists have used OZ’s 10,000 square-foot warehouse theater to develop new works. For more information, please visit ozartsnashville.org.
About Hervé Koubi
Of Algerian roots, Hervé Koubi grew up in France where he studied biology and dance at the University of Aix-en-Provence before graduating as a Pharmaceutical Doctor in 2002. After deciding to concentrate on a dancing career and graduating from the Rosella Hightower School of Dance in Cannes, Koubi gained professional experience as a dancer before creating his first project entitled Le Golemand collaborating with Guillaume Gabriel and more recently also with Fayçal Hamlat. Since 2010, he has been working with a group of 12 to 14 all male street dancers from North Africa on several works including What the Day Owes to The Night, The Barbarian Nights or The First Dawns of the World, Boys Don’t Cry, and ODYSSEY.
More recently, he has been Associate Choreographer at the Pole National Supérieur de Danse in France and has been awarded the French medal of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in July 2015. Compagnie Hervé Koubi is based mainly in Calais, in Northern France, and keeps strong relationships with Cannes and the region Nouvelle Aquitaine.
The company’s past four seasons of extensive touring included a total of about 85 performances annually in both Europe and all over North America, from Hawaii to Ottawa, including US appearances at The Joyce Theater, New York City Center’s Fall For Dance Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
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