- 16 Jun 2026
- 4 minutes read
With Phénix, choreographer Mourad Merzouki pushes the boundaries of dance disciplines. Both poetic and explosive, this creation brings together four dancers and a live viola da gamba on stage, creating a surprising dialogue between urban dance and Baroque sounds.
A meeting across the centuries
The viola da gamba is a string instrument that was especially popular during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its soft and warm tones resonated through royal courts and aristocratic salons. Held between the legs, it features six or seven strings as well as frets, much like a guitar. The word “gamba” comes from Italian and means “leg.” During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, numerous works were composed for the viola da gamba.
In Phénix, four dancers engage in a dialogue with the viola da gamba, giving rise to an encounter that is both intimate and explosive. Mourad Merzouki connects two worlds that may initially seem opposed: the energy of hip-hop and the refinement of Baroque music. The performers share the stage with a live musician and move fluidly between styles and eras. The choreography refuses labels, blending contemporary dance with urban influences, while music and movement continuously merge into one another. Added to this are the electronic sounds of composer Arandel, which inject new energy and amplify the power of this singular encounter.
“I wanted to bring together completely opposite disciplines in order to create a light and singular form. In an intimate atmosphere, the artists cross their worlds and present a unique work, elevated by their alchemy.”— Mourad Merzouki
Phénix was first presented to audiences in September 2022 during the Festival d’Ambronay in France. Since then, the production has become a true favorite on international stages. In an intimate, almost chamber-music atmosphere, the artists move through space in spirals and rotations, crossing worlds and giving birth to a new form that is both light and daring.
Aesthetic as a Playground
Mourad Merzouki has a unique talent for fusing opposing artistic languages into a coherent whole. In Phénix, he deliberately blurs conventions: the clean lines of contemporary dance alternate with the fluidity of urban dance, while the music oscillates between the 17th and the 21st centuries. The result is an airy and singular performance that never loses its lightness while deeply moving audiences.
Dance critic Nathalie Yokel wrote in La Terrasse:
“The movements, made up of spirals and rotations, go far beyond the strict vocabulary of hip-hop. The fusion of languages — between contemporary and urban dance, or between music and dance — forms the dynamic that inspires the performance and carries the artists into a striking energy.”
This hybridization creates an intense and immersive energy that captivates audiences from the very first minutes.
A Pioneer at the Crossroads of Disciplines
Since the early 1990s, Mourad Merzouki has been regarded as one of the most influential choreographers of his generation within the hip-hop scene. At the age of seven, he began circus training in Saint-Priest while also practicing martial arts, before discovering hip-hop culture at fifteen. In 1989, he founded his first company, Accrorap, together with Kader Attou and Eric Mezino. Following the success of Athina at the Biennale de la Danse de Lyon in 1994, he chose to follow his own artistic path and founded Compagnie Käfig in 1996 — a name meaning “cage” in both Arabic and German, symbolizing his artistic credo: refusing to be confined to a single category.
With his company, the acclaimed choreographer brought urban dance from the streets into major theater venues and built an impressive repertoire including Récital, Boxe Boxe, Käfig Brasil, Pixel, and Cartes Blanches.
Today, his repertoire includes more than 42 creations, presented in 70 countries to audiences of over 2.5 million people. Mourad Merzouki has received numerous distinctions, including the title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France.
An Experience for Everyone
Phénix is intended for a wide audience aged seven and above. The performance invites audiences to take a fresh look at dance, music, and the space that connects them.
When: April 18, 2027, 5:00 PM
Where: Cirque Royal
