Ici N'Est Pas La Paroisse (This Is Not The Parish)

Ici N'Est Pas La Paroisse (This Is Not The Parish) is a personal research into the artists' African identity, their roots, spiritual values, and their divine creators. Some of their questions lie at the origin of this desire to recreate a new dance, among the dances they underwent "initiatic" practices and posed several questions. Who are they really? What are their existential relationships with others, their deities, and themselves? This research and questioning challenges their almost nonexistent comfort zones to give them material for the ways their bodies move in space(s).

Artist Biographies

Byb Chanel Bibene

Byb Chanel Bibene is a dance educator, choreographer and performer working in theater, ethnic, Afro urban, and contemporary dance forms. His own technical and aesthetic sensibility is rooted in the culture and dances of his country of origin, the Republic of Congo. He has toured the world and performed internationally with companies and choreographers originating from Africa, Europe, and the USA.

Artistic Director of Kiandanda Dance Theater, Bibene founded Mbongui Square festival, a multidisciplinary arts festival that gathers dance, music, spoken word and visual artists from the Bay Area and across the world.

Kôdrô Aoussou Evry

Kôdrô Aoussou Evry is a dancer, performer, creator, and choreographer. She is a graduate of Germaine Acogny’s École des Sables, having completed three years of training in pedagogy, choreography, and transmission (TGA). Her professional experience and constant desire to share enable her to teach traditional dances of West Africa, Afro-modern dance, and contemporary dance. A passionate choreographer, she is deeply committed to the transmission of art, with the greatest respect for the cultures from which she comes and, of course, for the students who patiently devote themselves to learning. 

Florent Dhossou

Florent Dhossou is the recipient of the 2023 Trophée de l’Engagement awarded by the City of Lille. He has received recognition from the Hauts-de-France region for his artistic work and for managing cultural projects in the region. He is the runner-up of the 2022 Kirina Prize for Best Young Performing Artist in Africa. He has also been recognized by the Nord Prefecture through the granting of an Artistic and Cultural Talent Passport. At the same time, he is actively involved in project management. He holds a professional Master’s degree in Dance and Choreography, as well as a research Master’s degree in Art and International Social Responsibility from the University of Lille.

Karamo Susso

Karamo Susso grew up amongst the griots of his community in Mali, and began playing the kora before he was even big enough to hold it up by himself. He learned from griots in his own community and family, who also happened to be legendary kora players like his uncle Ballake Sissoko, and his neighbor Toumani Diabete. He has since become an internationally renowned player, perfoming throughout West Africa, and teaching at the Institute Nationale des Artes in Bamako, Mali. He has toured with Salif Keita, Toumani Diabate, Youssou N’Dour, Vieux Farka Toure, and he was the Composition Director for The Gambian National Cultural Ensemble.