Photo : © Baranova
Inspired by the Lila ceremonies, traditional mystical and musical celebrations of his native Morocco, Ismaël Mouaraki, in his new creation, explores trance with a group of male dancers. Through them, it is also his own journey that he retraces before the eyes of the public.
In Arabic, lila means “night”. These ceremonies are nocturnal rituals of spiritual healing, combining song, dance and music, traditionally found in Maghreb countries. Ismaël transposes the rites and codes of these danced rituals on stage, revealing the sensitivity and sensuality of the male body. Tinted with the tastes and colors of Morocco, the artists transform the show into a moment of true celebration, where the exaltation of the body unfolds through contagious energy.
Since 2003, Ismaël Mouaraki has led Destins Croisés, the company he founded. His choreographic work explores humanity’s infinite facets, consistently reflecting his core obsessions. In works like Loops (2008), Slam en/Corps (2009) with slam poet Queen KA, RefleXction (2010), and group pieces Lien(s) (2016), oZe (2019), and Phenomena (2019), his focus remains on polarities, control, domination, and the individual’s role in the group.
In his latest creation, Le sacre de Lila (2022), he unites dancers from Quebec and Morocco to celebrate the sacred rituals of his homeland.
Ismaël is known for surrounding himself with talented collaborators who inspire his vision. His work is rooted in human connection and openness to diverse perspectives. For him, dance is a way to explore social phenomena and the human condition, shaped by cultural and social imprints.
In 2019, he co-received the Prix Envol for cultural diversity in Montreal dance. In 2023, he won the Prix de la Danse de Montréal for best choreographic work for Le sacre de Lila. (Photo : Sylvie-Ann Paré)
Production
Destins Croisés
Choreographer
Ismaël Mouaraki
Rehearsal directors and artistic advisors
Annie Gagnon
Geneviève Boulet
Performers
Rodrigo Alvarenga-Bonilla
Léo Coupal-Lafleur
Gabriel Jobin
Etienne Léonard Benoit
Danny Morissette
Alexandre Wilhelm
Additional performers at creation
Ayoub Hattab
Faissal El Assia
Soufiane Faouzi Mrani
Yassine Khyar
Music
Antoine Berthiaume
With the participation of Association Salamate Gnawa Montréal and Okto Echo
Lighting and technical direction
Rodolphe St-Arneault
Costumes and set design
Marilène Bastien
Coproduction
Agora de la danse
International distribution
CAPAS – Label de danse
