UNDERDOG CITY – film

UNDERDOG CITY draws on the central figure of the Statue of Liberty to question the notions of liberty, universalism and cultural integration. It draws parallels between the current societal issues at stake in Western countries (globalization, standardization of values, post-colonial issues) and the cultural challenges that are revealed by the gentrification of hip-hop culture and the transformation of this anti-establishment and liberating social movement into an academic body language.

The film revisits a central portion of the choreographic show Underdogs, while putting the spotlight on several groups of inhabitants of the city of Ivry-sur-Seine, who are filmed alongside the dancers from the show in several emblematic sites of the city. Dancers from the shows Mati?re(s) premi?re(s) and Heracles on his head are filmed besides the inhabitants, whom they coached during this yearly artist-in-residence program. UNDERDOG CITY was initiated by the city of Ivry-sur-Seine, in partnership with la briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne, as part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad.

UNDERDOG CITY is Anne Nguyen?s second short film, after Épicentre (2021), which questions the concept of cultural appropriation.

CAST

Scenario, text, direction and choreography: Anne Nguyen

Directed by: Anne Nguyen and Greg Kozo 

Film soundtrack: Sébastien Lété ? Big Kick, adaptation from the show Autarcie (?.)?s original soundtrack (remix by Greg Kozo)

Film credits soundtrack: Greg Kozo

Dancers from the show Underdogs: Sonia Bel Hadj Brahim aka ?SonYa?, Arnaud Duprat aka ?AAron EVO?, Pascal Luce aka ?Scalp

Dancers from the show Mati?re(s) premi?re(s): Mark-Wilfried Kouadio aka ?Willy Kazzama?, Grâce Tala

Dancers from the show Heracles on his head: Janice Bieleu aka ?J-Nice?

Images: Greg Kozo, Alexandre Lancelle

Drone: Cédric Nussli

Editing: Mohamed Bouhiya, Anne Nguyen

Post-production: Mohamed Bouhiya

Location managers: Kevin Sambé, Arthur Behe

PARTICIPANTS
? Dancers from Conservatoire Municipal de Musique et de Danse de la Ville d?Ivry-sur-Seine: Apolline Cassegrain, Ad?le Dariel, Amandine Fievet, Dominique Guerrini, Nathalie Hu, Kenza Gabrielle Kouaho, Adeoumi Kouchanou aka ?OUMY?, Lou Petit, Romane Potyralo, Sonia Voglozin

? Dancers from the hip-hop section of l?Union Sportive d?Ivry-sur-Seine (USI): David Cécé, Ne?la Oukach

? Dancers from Maisons Municipales de Quartier d?Ivry-sur-Seine | Kids / youth: Sana Beldjilali, Louise Belkhami, Camélia Bidjou, Lina Boukeroui, Selma Boukeroui, Djeneba Coulibaly, Nour Awa Diop Sacko, Mariam Koita, Oumou Konate, Hawa Magassa, Kylliah Moutoucarpin, Zela Charlot Ouattara, Fatoumata Soukouna, Jenna Wandji

? Dancers from Maisons Municipales de Quartier d?Ivry-sur-Seine | Adults: Patricia Chaupe, Nacéra Giudoum, Maryline Lefebvre, Annie Lepeytre, Najat Mosta, Éléonore Ngassa Heukam, Marie-Georges Rodap, Nabia Zeumouche

PRODUCTION

Production: par Terre / Anne Nguyen Dance Company
Production team: Constance Renger, Ana?s Nguyen Khac, Edwige Blondeaut, Mona Kaabi, Marie Archimbaud
With the support of:

• The entire team of la briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne especially Myriam Boughanem, Emmanuelle David, Arina Dolgikh, Constance Duret, Julien Filoche, Mathilde Galinou, Nicolas Gilles, Thelma Omasson, as well as Delphine Blondet, Christine Fouilleul, Maud Hoffmann, Mélanie Jegatheesan & Sandra Neuveut

• La Direction des Affaires Culturelles de la Ville d?Ivry-sur-Seine: Marianne Revoy, Louis Plat, Sandy Dequivre

• La Direction des Sports de la Ville d?Ivry-sur-Seine: Sophie Daudet, Amine Fathallah, Kamel Adjout, Nathalie Panzo

Coproduction: A project initiated by the city of Ivry-sur-Seine, in partnership with la briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne, as part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad. Funded by la Ville d?Ivry-sur-Seine, La Métropole du Grand Paris, le Département du Val-de-Marne, la DRAC Île-de-France and la Région Île-de-France.

THANKS
LES ÉLUS DE LA VILLE D?IVRY-SUR-SEINE : Philippe Bouyssou, Méhadée Bernard, Alain Buch

COORDINATRICES ET PRÉCIEUX?SES COLLABORATEUR?ICES DES MAISONS MUNICIPALES DE QUARTIER D?IVRY-SUR-SEINE :

Maison municipale de quartier Petit Ivry : Sa?da Antouri, Éléonore Ngassa Heukam

Maison municipale de quartier Monmousseau-Verollot : Dehbia Belazouz, Rim Bouzbib, Dina Kilani, Bryan Vaz Varela

Maison municipale de quartier Gagarine : Sonia Perrimas

Maison municipale de quartier Ivry-Port : Lison Gebenholtz
Responsable du service Vie des Quartiers : Axel Taupin

DIRECTEURS DES MAISONS MUNICIPALES DE QUARTIER :

Maison municipale de quartier Monmousseau-Verollot : Khalid Afrej

Maison municipale de quartier Petit Ivry : Said Barouche

Maison municipale de quartier Gagarine : Said Belhouas Mohand

Maison municipale de quartier Ivry-Port : Céline M?Basse  

DIRECTION DE LA JEUNESSE DE LA VILLE D?IVRY-SUR-SEINE : Françoise Kerloc?h

ÉQUIPE PÉDAGOGIQUE ET D?ACTION CULTURELLE DU CONSERVATOIRE MUNICIPAL DE MUSIQUE ET DE DANSE DE LA VILLE D?IVRY-SUR-SEINE : Guillaume Moll, Erika Rava, Corinne Marlier, Eléa Grimaud, Lucie Breton

SECTION HIP-HOP DE L?UNION SPORTIVE D?IVRY-SUR-SEINE (USI) : Na?ma Richards, Imali Zakou-Bissy

ÉDUCATEUR?ICE?S SPORTIF?VE?S DE LA VILLE D?IVRY-SUR-SEINE : Sandrine Otina, Éric Amalou

LA MIROITERIE : Stéphane Juguet, Eva Labesse

LA HALLE BHV : Sadev94

SALLE VOLTAIRE : Sabine Pesqueira, Sofiane Boustar

ASSOCIATION LE HUBLOT D?IVRY

ÉCOLE ALBERT EINSTEIN : Philippe Magniez, Mado Blangis

TRAITEURS ET RESTAURATION : Zoé Bouillon, Cui&Cou, Woodiz Ivry
MERCI ? : Jean Bourbon

Responsable du service espace verts : Laurent Martin

The par Terre Dance Company is funded by l?Aide pluriannuelle du minist?re de la Culture / DRAC Île-de-France, la Région Île-de-France for ?Permanence Artistique et Culturelle? and l?Aide au fonctionnement du Département du Val-de-Marne.

In 2024/2025, the par Terre / Anne Nguyen Dance Company is an associate artist to La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux ? La Rochelle, as part of the associate artist residency program by the ministry of Culture, and to Théâtre des 2 Rives de Charenton-le-Pont.

In 2024/2025, the par Terre / Anne Nguyen Dance Company is in residency at l?Opéra de Massy.

Anne Nguyen was awarded the 2013 SACD Nouveau Talent Choréographie prize and appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2015. She has been an associated artist to Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse from 2015 to 2018.