Nouvel Exposé Dance Troupe is a Toronto-based dance company specializing in traditional and contemporary dance from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo and Egypt. Honoring tradition and innovation equally, we pair our original choreography with live traditional instruments as well as the freshest beats from the top of today’s African charts. Our name, Nouvel Exposé, gives testimony to our artistic mission — we aim to newly expose audiences to dance styles whose beauty has for too long gone unseen or unappreciated among many. Eskesta, Gurage, Tigrigna, Oromo, Walaita — these are some of the Ethiopian traditions we showcase. They are partnered onstage by contemporary dance styles hailing from the Congo region: Soukous, N’dombolo, Rumba as well as Ivorian-Congolese Coupé-Decalé. Egyptian Bellydance, Hip Hop and South African Kwaito form important accents to our repertoire.
Our creative venture is extremely modern. We do not just render tradition faithfully; our immersion in different African music communities allows us to contribute to the vibrant dialogue that is contemporary African dance. We have also had the opportunity to collaborate with musicians from Sudan, Eritrea, Congo, Cameroon and Ethiopia. We currently boast an Eritrean krar player (ancient East African “guitar”), Daniel Nebiat and Sudanese multiinstrumentalist Waleed Abdulhamid as members of our team.
Some of our festival appearances include Afrofest, Festival Bana y’Afrique, Toronto African Dance Festival, Harbourfront Centre events and Ethiopian Night at the Royal Ontario Museum. We showcased the first Premier Dance Theatre stage performance of Ethio-Eritrean dance during the 2006 Dance Ontario Dance Weekend accompanied by krar player Daniel Nebiat and drummer Waleed Abdulhameed. We have opened concerts for legendary artists such as Congolese Papa Wemba, Ethiopians Aster Aweke, Dawit Mellesse and Teddy Afro. We have also collaborated with danceImmersion on their annual Harbourfront Centre Theatre showcase in with Yefikir Guzo (a journey of love told through various Ethiopian dances) and Club Afrique (a piece exploring the urban club music genres of Africa). In addition, we have launched an annual African Dance Weekend of workshops and shows with guest artists. The first one in November 2005 featured seasoned Guinean dancer and drummer Fodé Bangoura.
The origin of the troupe itself is testament to our pan-African heritage and inspiration. Participants of the Miss AfriCanada 2000 pageant decided to come together to dance recreationally. Led by Savahna Ochola, a seasoned dancer and choreographer, Nouvel Exposé was born. In 2002, under the direction of Saba Alemayehu Asfaw, the troupe’s passion and commitment as well as audience’s approval led to its transformation into a professional performing dance company. Savahna originally started the troupe with the main focus on Congolese and Caribbean dance (hence its French name). Dancers and choreographers with other background such as Saba and Helena Alemayehu Asfaw’s Ethiopian, Bellydance and Hip Hop experience led to the troupe’s further breadth in repertoire. Our new member, Rumbidzai also adds the Southen African flavour. Hence, Nouvel Exposé continues to promote and revel in the celebration that the African diversity allows.