Impressions of TRIPTYK:

‘Pode Ser’ by Leïla Ka

‘Triptych’ with solo dance pieces by Fanny Brouyaux, Loraine Dambermont and Leïla Ka at the Alter Schlachthof Eupen

By Natalie Broschat

Since 2017, the Alter Schlachthof Eupen, which primarily presents circus and theatre, has been part of schrit_tmacher just dance! and cooperates with its 30-year-old neighbouring festival in Aachen as part of its own festival ‘Scenario’, which is celebrating its 24th edition this year. And in 2025, a very special dance form will be presented there: the solo. Three young choreographers contribute three wonderful solos under the title ‘Triptych’: ‘To be schieve or a romantic attempt’ by the Belgian Fanny Brouyaux, ‘Toujours de 3/4 Face’ by Loraine Dambermont, also from Belgium, and the award-winning ‘Pode Ser’ by the successful and globally sought-after French dancer Leïla Ka.

Anna-Tierney_Leila-Ka_PODE-SER©TANZweb.org_Klaus-Dilger

‘Pode Ser’ by Leïla Ka

Leïla Kas‘ solo “Pode Ser”, with which she has been on tour since 2018 and which can be seen in a shortened version on arte.tv, brings the “Triptychon” to a close. The French dancer-choreographer found her love of dance in urban dance, danced in the world-famous dance classic ‘May B’ by Maguy Marin, now choreographs for major companies and was able to present her work during the Cesár awards in February 2025.

However, she no longer dances ‘Pode Ser’ herself, but has commissioned the equally fabulous dancer Anna Tierney to present this penetrating work, which looks very similar to the younger Leïla Ka. The short hairstyle, which Leïla Ka no longer wears, is essential for the solo, which deals with the big question and search for one’s own identity. The associations and views on gender attributions change in a matter of seconds. Either initiated by Anna Tierney or by the outside world. A brief change of light, both arms crossed in front of the chest over the beige-coloured dress and immediately everything is different. Man? Woman? Non-binary? When the black sports trousers are uncovered and the torso wrapped in the dress reveals a different, equally powerful and jagged quality of movement, the complexity and androgyny of this person on stage shines brightly. Anna Tiernay moves through this physical and personal story at lightning speed, creating a strong ending to this incredibly powerful evening of dance by three women whose special solo pieces will resonate for a long time to come.