The HĂ–FN association, constantly makes new connections, renews old ties, or quite simply opens its door to other associations, friends, adventures....
That was just what happened in June 2011, a perfect time for a joyful outdoors meal,
the best way to welcome and meet part of the Débrid'arts "team" and its 2011 Odyssée des Enfants' partners.
A beautiful and multicultural evening, one day before the FIRST CHILDREN'S PERFORMANCE then.
They were to be ALL TOGETHER (from France, Quebec and Morocco) ON STAGE....
(see: AN EVENING WITH THE DÉBRID'ARTS COMPANY, the 23d of June 2011)
... and almost exactly 3 years later, we invited again DĂ©brid'arts ans its new partners... almost new...!.
In less than a week following this very evening, it will be the "première" of this 5th version of the Odyssée des enfants since 2001.
A new form of the Odyssée is born this time, which is not anymore only multicultural, but transgenerational as well.
The children from Aix en Provence will be on stage with the children from Marrakech, but they will tread the boards with seniors and women, also from France and Marocco.
Our HÖFN association has invited this 8th of June 2014 Judith Arsenault, actress and director, the Odyssée des Enfants project initiator,
surrounded with a group of women, called the talented women, living all in the Medina of Marrakech,
all extremely active in the DAR BELLARJ Foundation
which has created all kinds of workshops not only for the children and teen-agers of the district but for the grown-ups as well.
Thus, a growing women group has been formed, sharing the art of traditional embroidery, very special moments of free and intimate talk ,
Sufi singing, Theater (...)
Eight of them, with Maha Elmadi, the Foundation head,
as well as Aziz Bouyabrine (Art teacher and organiser of social activities that we already met in 2011)
were for the first time in France (at least some of them) and... for the first time on our good old HĂ–FN terrace...
Nothing more had been imagined but a plain moment for meeting, chatting, sharing all together an outdoor dinner...
an evening break as rehearsals intensify before the première of the Odyssée performance,
at the Bois de l'Aune Theater, in Aix en Provence, the 13th of June.
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On the left, a photo of the women's group, as soon as they arrived, the sea, (totally invisible here!), in the distance...
On the right, everybody has got together, including the 2 only men; "aperitif" time!.
On the left, Khadija; on the right, Amina (Aziz's sister)
On the left, Maha and Amina; on the right, Sylvain and Aziz (Amina's brother)
Sylvain comes from Tours;
he met for the first time these women as choreographic exchanges were organised between Tours and the DAR BELLARJ Foundation,
and, later on, spontaniously, set himself as those ladies' driver and devoted admirer during this Odyssée 2014 in France.
On the left, Rachida and Zineb; on the right, Amina and Lamia (Maha's sister)
From left to right , Maha, Lamia, Khadija
On the left, Aziz, (here at the exact place (an his favorite one!) on the terrace he was drown to when he visited us the first time (in 2011),
On the right, Lamia, Rachida, Zineb, Amina
On the left, Amina and Lamia; on the right, Rachida and Zineb
Now strikes up a conversation between all, talking about the history of the DAR BELLARJ FOUNDATION, the women's individual lives,
their relations and roles in the Foundation, what did draw them to take part in the Odyssée adventure,
the obligatory administrative procedures related to this travel to France (the first one for most of them),
and also, thanks to - (on the right) - Judith Arsenault's narrative, how the Odyssée tried a new transgenerational form,
and, last but not least, following a more intimate question, the tale of her (canadian to begin with) and extremely eventful childhood...
Sharing an outdoor meal (unfortunately NOT Hallal... will ensue an interesting, rather humorous discussion about the matter...)
As night was gently falling, a few portraits at twilights:
(from left to right): Sylvain and Judith, Amina, Rachida
It had turned dark, and, as some kind of an offering, the women sang....
LISTEN....