Dance - Ridz's "Isicathulo" Company

One of the lesser-known branches of hip-hop, stepping has its roots in African American history and embodies the spirit of brotherhood found in urban dance. Born out of the rebellion of slaves who had been stripped of their drums and were forced to beat their own bodies to stay united, alive, and powerful, it combines various body beats with songs and calls to action. Drawing on this heritage, Isicathulo (which means “shoe” in Zulu) captivates us from the very first seconds. No artifice, no unnecessary scenery. The dancers themselves become the instruments. It is at once fascinating, hypnotic, and deeply human. The percussive movements of stepping are matched by the powerful and poetic words of MC Benjamin Pepion (alias STAV), who blends rap, slam, and singing.

Exploring here the representational force of masculinity and the power of fragility, Simonne Rizzo doesn’t just choreograph—she dynamites. You don’t enter this piece as you would a theater; you are summoned to it as if to a trial of the body. Not a word too many. Not a breath too many. Just the fire of necessity. Isicathulo isn’t a piece to be seen—it’s a jolt to be weathered.

Cast:
By: Simonne Rizzo
With: Joël Beauvois, Dalila Cortes, Thomas Queyrens, Simonne Rizzo, and Benjamin STAV
Artistic Collaborator: Béatrice Warrand
Lighting Design: Michaël Varlet
Songwriters: Mourad Bouhlali, Cheikh Sall, and Benjamin STAV
Costumes: Corinne Ruiz

Press:
“The show is unlike anything else you’ll see anywhere else /…/ You leave shaken, moved, and filled with admiration. This rare experience—a unique performance /.../—will stay with us for a long time; it’s one we won’t forget.” Théâtre Clau
“Simonne Rizzo, more than ever, asserts her place in the small but indispensable pantheon of female hip-hop choreographers.” Umoove