Enowate - Dickson Mbi

A solo dance piece by English choreographer Dickson Mbi that explores his family roots in Cameroon and the animist beliefs of his African heritage, with a language drawing on hip-hop and contemporary dance.

Enowate is a solo dance piece created by dancer and choreographer Dickson Mbi, which premieres in Spain as part of the Teatros del Canal programme. The work draws on the journey the artist undertook to the homeland of his family in Cameroon, where he sought to reconnect with the animist practices of his tradition. That personal journey becomes a stage exploration of identity.

On stage, Mbi brings his African heritage into dialogue with the contemporary life he has built in London, in the East End neighbourhood. Among the memories that serve as a starting point are a two-headed snake, the roar of a tiger heard during a funeral ritual and an encounter with a blind elder. These images are translated into movement and lead the choreographer towards his family's beliefs.

The choreography blends features of hip-hop with contemporary dance, accompanied by original music and animated projections. It alternates the dancer's physical power with passages of introspection of an almost ritual character. The production includes partial nudity, intense sound at certain moments and fog on stage. The performance takes place in the Sala Verde of Teatros del Canal, a Madrid performance space that mainly programmes theatre.