In Paris this summer, breakdancing, or “breaking”, will move from the streets to the stadium as it debuts as an Olympic sport. On May 23-24, French conductor Zahia Ziouani will lead France’s Divertimento Symphony Orchestra, which she founded, and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong in an electrifying fusion of music and movement styles from around the globe. Part of this year’s French May Art Festival, the show, titled “Symphony of New Worlds”, will feature a diverse repertoire from Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Ziouani, who spearheaded this collaboration, tells the Post that the idea behind it is to create a new world where “we accept new forms and act together with diversity in music and dance”. “It’s not very usual here in France to have this kind of music on the stage of classical performances. ‘Symphony of New Worlds’ makes it possible to discover the world not only by music but also by dance,” she says.
On stage Mourad Merzouki, known as the “Ambassador of French hip hop”, will infuse the music’s vibrant rhythms with a dynamic fusion of hip hop, breakdance, martial arts, and contemporary dance. As a choreographer trained in martial arts and circus acrobatics, Merzouki says expanding the boundaries of hip hop dance is a long-standing endeavour. “Breaking down barriers, crossing disciplines, creating unexpected dialogues, shaking things up, and being shaken are what deeply drive me in the process of creation,” Merzouki sa.
