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DANCERS-CITIZENS

Dancers-Citizens is a project by Tunisian cultural association ‘Art Solution’ which uses dancing in the street as a form of cultural resistance against religious extremism.

Origins

Devised by Tunisian cultural association ‘Art Solution’ after previous projects had been denied permission by the Tunisian ministries.

Aims

Stared in December 2012 as a way for artists to (re)claim a place in Tunisian streets “We were afraid that Tunisian artists would lose their status in the street with the impeding danger of extremists, who threaten freedom,” said Bahri Ben Yahmed, one of Art Solution’s founders.

“Tunisians do not really want to talk about politics and religion,” Ben Yahmed explained. “Once you do not discuss those topics with them, you notice a new spirit in them. They are back to being Tunisians. Their identity can be found and expressed in dance.”

What is it?

Young dancers stages performances under a banner that quotes French diplomat and author Stephane Hessel, “to create is to resist, to resist is to create.”

Mixtures of breaking, folk and contemporary styles. The third (of three) videos attempted to “reconcile Tunisians with the art of dancing by combining traditional music and dance”.

Where does it happen?

In front of a police car at Kasbah Square next to the prime minister’s office, a frequent site of post-revolutionary demonstrations and sit-ins. Outside the Ministry of Interior, where thousands of Tunisians protested the dictatorship of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali during the January 14 revolution.

Reactions

Passers-by occasionally join in.

References

Art Solution Facebook page

TunisiaLive (2013) ‘Tunisian Dancers Take Back the Streets'