Cali Kula & Ogra: Crafting the Soundscape of Bal Clandestin
In Bal Clandestin, choreographers Hafiz Dhaou and Aïcha M’barek revive the spirit of forbidden dance gatherings from the Vichy era, transforming them into a powerful, immersive performance. As highlighted in L'Humanité, the show, presented at Espace des Arts in Chalon-sur-Saône, dismantles boundaries between performers and audience, turning the stage into a space of collective liberation.
4/1/2025
Cali Kula & Ogra: Crafting the Soundscape of BAL clandestin
In BAL clandestin, choreographers Hafiz Dhaou and Aïcha M’barek revive the spirit of forbidden dance gatherings from the Vichy era, transforming them into a powerful, immersive performance. As highlighted in L'Humanité, the show, presented at Espace des Arts in Chalon-sur-Saône, dismantles boundaries between performers and audience, turning the stage into a space of collective liberation.
At the heart of this experience is the original music crafted by Cali Kula and Ogra, founders of Wild Bohemia Records. Their sound design oscillates between hypnotic, driving rhythms and atmospheric textures, shaping a sonic journey that fuels the dancers' energy and engages the audience. Ogra, known for pioneering Tunisia’s first electronic music club, manipulates beats and voices live, while Cali Kula, a former radio host, infuses the composition with layered, narrative depth.
The performance builds from precision-driven choreography—echoing hip-hop, Butoh, and contemporary dance—toward a spontaneous eruption, where spectators, drawn by the music’s intensity, step onto the stage themselves. As L’Humanité describes, the event evokes both the clandestine dance parties of the past and the underground raves of the pandemic era, where music became a vital act of defiance and connection.
With Bal clandestin, Cali Kula and Ogra are not just providing a soundtrack; they are shaping a live, evolving musical experience, pushing the boundaries between sound, movement, and collective energy.
