| Maker | Shailesh Bahoran |
| Duration | 60 min |
| Program lines |
Roots & IdentityMakers reveal how they deal with questions of origin, identity, colonialism, gender and historical events.
So(ul)cietySocietal issues are addressed in this work, however complicated they may be.
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What is the definition of a real Surinamese?
In CREOLE, choreographer Shailesh Bahoran searches for the origins of Surinamese culture. In a population that consists of Creoles, Hindustani, Chinese, Javanese, Indigenous people (such as Kalinyas and Lokonos), Jews and Dutch, the definition of a real Surinamese is not easy to fully unravel. The term ‘creolization’ is used for the mixing of different cultures that then merge into one. In addition to Surinamese culture, Caribbean culture is a strong example of this phenomenon.
Sadly a big catalyst for both these examples was slavery and indentured servitude. How can a new culture, rich in customs, community spirit and energy break free from a shared traumatic history? Shailesh sees this quandary as a symbolic link to hip-hop culture, which also arose from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, often originating from a shared difficult past – to subsequently emerge as a particularly versatile culture full of new art forms and connective power.
In this performance, Shailesh – who was recently nominated for a Zwaan award – works with dancers who reflect the diverse background of Surinamese culture, artistically, ethnically and culturally.
"This Surinam-born dancer and choreographer with Hindustani roots lives up to his promising status as a rising star in Dutch dance with a special symphony of explosive hip-hop dynamics and refined Indian dance."
— Trouw
Korzo Zaal