Easter and its crabs carry a certain sense of closure—the end of the school year, but also the end of the cultural season. This is the perfect opportunity for the incomparable and steadfast Centre Martiniquais d’Action Culturelle (CMAC), a National Performing Arts Center, to unveil the final quarter of programming for the 2010–2011 season.
As in previous quarters and years, the end of the cultural season brings us a high-quality, multidisciplinary program. What sets this program apart, however, is a fresh touch—that of its new director.
In fact, Josiane Cueff, who was appointed in February 2011, was able to take part in it. While she admits that the end of the season wrapped up quickly, it was by no means rushed—as we, the audience, can see.
In addition, the CMAC—which continues to operate under the joint oversight of the DRAC (Ministry of Culture) and the General Council—has promised that, starting next year, its annual program will retain its traditional events while adapting them to current trends, such as the Contemporary Dance Biennial.
For now, let's take a look at the rest of the season, which promises some exciting events featuring surprising matchups.
From film and theater to music, visual arts, contemporary dance, and performances for young audiences, as the season draws to a close, there’s something for every taste and every audience. On the program are events rooted in the present that examine our times with force, energy, and boldness. Timothy Fergusson showcases iconic figures of Martinican culture in an original exhibition titled «Césaire & Co,» while AM4 continues the research it began some thirty-five years ago to present a colorful and meaningful performance titled «Won dan won.» The EthaDam company seeks to bridge the gap between ancestral Africa and modern society through hip-hop dance that provokes thought and moves audiences with dynamism and sensitivity. This performance is part of the commemoration of May 22, 1948. There is a great deal of movement across disciplines that intersect and even clash: for example, as part of the Mix’Art festival, a unique and original exhibition blends street art—graphic art from the streets—with dance. The exhibition’s title speaks for itself: «Corps et graff.».
«Bitter Sugar» by the Raphaëlle Delaunay Company offers an opportunity to discover the Martinican choreographer, who is performing for the first time in her home country. With this production, she offers a dynamic and joyful reinterpretation of the epic history of the African American community in the 1920s and 1930s.
Music, ever-present, has some wonderful surprises and new releases in store for us. With «Jedi mizik,» a series dedicated to discovering artists from here and abroad, two truly beautiful stops are on the schedule: «Bèlènou,» dedicated to researching and promoting tradition—a quasi-sacred mission carried out with heart and passion by a team led by Edmond Mondésir and Léon Bertide. We’ll also be treated to a performance by Dominique Bérose, the talented pianist from Guadeloupe who performs as part of a trio, masterfully and brilliantly taking us on a wild, eclectic jazz journey.
The season finale is absolutely stunning—even brilliant—featuring an international star, Keziah Jones. The guitarist will perform with his trio for an evening blending funk, blues, and soul, taking the audience on a journey into an uncompromising, energetic, and socially conscious world.
Two film events to discover socially conscious filmmakers and award-winning films from renowned festivals—the Venice Film Festival, the Berlin Film Festival, and the Cannes Film Festival—as well as films that have garnered attention and been nominated for the Césars or the Oscars. Each film opens our eyes to a different reality, offers new perspectives, and reveals a multifaceted society—one that is suffering and tormented, yet very much alive and full of possibilities. In short, it’s the kind of cinema we love: the noble and vibrant seventh art.
All in all, the end of the CMAC season promises three months of intense, rich, varied, and original cultural experiences; three months of discovery, three months of living culture.
Nadia CELCAL.
