Mehdi Kerkouche unveils 360: his new creation at Chaillot

Mehdi Kerkouche presents "360" at the Théâtre National de Chaillot from May 14 to 18, 2025. A participatory, sensory performance by the director of the Créteil CCN.

Prolific choreographer and rising figure on the contemporary scene, Mehdi Kerkouche continues his exploration of movement and collective commitment with 360, his latest creation presented at the Théâtre National de Chaillot . Director of the Centre Chorégraphique National de Créteil et du Val-de-Marne | EMKA, he continues the dynamic begun with Portrait, a show that attracted a great deal of attention at Chaillot in 2023. Inspired by musical comedy, social networking and physical proximity to the audience, Mehdi Kerkouche 's new piece offers an immersive, sensitive experience, entirely rethinking the spectator's place.

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With 360, Mehdi Kerkouche takes a choreographic look at the complexity of human relationships and the constant tension between light and darkness in our collective lives. At the Théâtre National de Chaillot, the show would not take place on a traditional stage, but in a circular space without tiers, within which the audience would be free to move about. This non-frontal setting would enable immediate proximity to the artists, who would regularly invite spectators to intervene in the scenic space, contributing to the construction of lively, moving tableaux.

Conceived as a participatory experience at Chaillot, Mehdi Kerkouche's360 alternates between dance sequences and audience interaction. By integrating spectators into the performance process itself, the new creation would seek to create a form of ephemeral community, posing the central question of what connects us to each other, and what makes us alive.

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360 à Chaillot is aimed primarily at contemporary dance fans and spectators interested in immersive stage experiences. Those who have appreciated participatory devices in choreographic or performative forms such as those by Yoann Bourgeois, Sidi Larbi Cherkaouior the collective (La)Horde might be receptive to this approach.

On the other hand, spectators accustomed to a more conventional frontal approach, or uncomfortable with the idea of interacting or moving around during a performance, may find the experience more unsettling. The very nature of the piece, highly physical and open to the unexpected, presupposes a certain emotional and bodily availability. The inclusion of adapted 360 sessions (audiodescription, psychic accessibility) also testifies to an assertive desire for openness andinclusivity, in line with the commitments made by the CCN de Créteil under Kerkouche's direction.

With 360, Mehdi Kerkouche proposes a daring, participatory choreographic form, echoing the great questions of our time about living together, social ties and the place of the individual in the collective. To be discovered in the splendid Théâtre National de Chaillot.

This article is based on communications provided by the theater and information available in official media. The show has not been viewed.

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