Tell us about the general public in Fribourg, how did they react to you?
Thanks to the workshops we organised in Fribourg and the «move in town» studio, we could perform at the station, the market and in the streets. We were able to talk about our work with many people which, in general, seemed very easy to do in Switzerland. Following on from the interest generated by our workshops, we would like to make it possible for Swiss dancers to train in traditional dance in Chad.
What are the biggest challenges facing people in Chad?
Young people are leaving the countryside to find work in the capital where they find themselves left to their own devices in a city where life is very expensive. Girls are the most vulnerable - if they are unfortunate enough to have become pregnant, without money or a fiancé, they can no longer go back to their village and end up falling into prostitution. This problem should be tackled at its source by going to the countryside and talking with young people about the realities of the city, the risk of widespread diseases such as AIDS and the importance of using condoms. We try to get the message across through dance because as artists, we are also there to show what is not working in order to change it.
What was it in particular that drove you to dance and choreography?
After I finished school, my parents were no longer able to pay for my education. So I threw myself into theatre but quickly became aware that this wouldn't suit me because in theatre, the text is already written. I wanted to express myself, and dancing allowed me to do that.