Voudu Songs is a unique encounter with a voice tradition that emerged from Haitian vodou rituals. Led by Marie-Suze Jean-Baptiste (Mambo Nini), the work will centre around a shared experience of song transmission, with participants exploring the soundspace and working techniques associated with the local community in Jacmel.
Voudu Songs is a unique encounter with a voice tradition that emerged from Haitian vodou rituals. Led by Marie-Suze Jean-Baptiste (Mambo Nini), the work will centre around a shared experience of song transmission, with participants exploring the soundspace and working techniques associated with the local community in Jacmel.
The work taps into Haiti as a space of intercultural exploration, continuing a path that was also trodden by Jerzy Grotowski, who went on expeditions to Haiti in his Theatre of Sources period.
From the vodou ceremony Grotowski took the songs and step of the yanval dance, which he later introduced into the performative structure of Action.
In the context of theatrical and cultural explorations, vodou is regarded as a pivotal dramatic religion. Its rituals are structured as dance and music ceremonies in which lwa come into contact with a community of believers by mounting their chosen devotees. Marie-Suze Jean-Baptiste (Mambo Nine) practises vodou as a priestess and ceremony leader.
The songs she uses are part of a ritual structure. During this workshop, in a different context, they will become a vehicle of tradition and a new language of the community formed by workshop participants.
Participants must bring white clothes and white headgear.