Ouled Jellaba

« Une histoire comme la mienne ne devrait jamais être racontée, car mon univers est aussi fragile que tabou… Rien ne me disposait à devenir danseur, mais c’est le destin qui décida ainsi… Et me voila, enfin devant vous… savez vous qui je suis? et savez vous ce que j’étais? Un danseur, n’a pas de vie, il vous divertit... Nous vendons nos talents mais pas nos corps... Nous donnons du plaisir à la vie… Vous buvez du thé, du café... Et nous dansons pour vous »

In this solo production, Rochdi Belgasmi brings the swinging twenties in Tunis back to life. In the evening, the bakeries, fish shops, and butchers’ shops were transformed into café chantants, and men transformed into ‘Ouled Jellaba’. They poured tea, juggled, and sang, but more important than anything else, they danced – as women. Due to the increase in women’s rights, including the right to dance publicly, these drag queens felt increasingly marginalized. The stars of yesteryear were gradually forgotten and were erased from official history. Rochdi Belgasmi is not only presenting an impressive tribute to the qualities of these performers, but also questions the contemporary taboos around gender and sexuality in Tunisian society.

• Rochdi Belgasmi lives and works in Tunis. Ouled Jellaba won the Prix International de la Fondation Rambourg and the Prix du Public at the Festival Tunis Capitale de la Danse.