“Dancing is doing movements in reason.”
Mehdi Baki is an amazing performer who not only can dance Break dance, Hip-pop, Capoeira, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary dances but also act, choreograph, and work for TV shows and advertisements as a full artist. He has been working with James Thierrèe, Yoann Bourgeois, and Giuliano Peparini with his endless curiosity and enthusiasm.
-You studied a lot of different styles, starting from break dance, hip hop and also ballet, jazz and contemporary since you were young, how does this influence your dance today?
“ I started with B-boying and Capoeira. I was mostly fascinated by people who mix the genres. When I was 16, I took modern jazz class. When I was 18, I trained in Ballet in Paris. I have always tried to catch the vibes of the movements of discipline. And physical theater blew my mind. Moreover, I have always been interested in people who do diverse kinds of dances. For example, Giuliano Peparini who mostly trained in Ballet creates contemporary movements with diverse dynamic qualities of movements that push me a lot with physical acting while working with him.”
-I can say that you are a complete performer, you have done diverse kinds of genres of arts, and you are able to be at the top of everything. How much do you think curiosity is important as an artist?
“It is the basis of my artistic identity. Since I was 18 or 19, I have wanted to be like people who fascinate me and tried to learn from them with curiosity. I don’t steal their movements, but I steal what I like from them. With understanding why these people move in this way, I tried to figure out the image that they express deeply. I also get bored easily. I always travel a lot and experiment with different styles. That is why I am trying to attempt new things, and keep excitement. I only know whether I like it or not by trying. So in order to testify to me, I keep trying.”
- How much do you feel the actorial part is important for a performer? And is it natural for you?
“I am sensitive. I am trying to accept it. When I got injured I was 23 but at the same time I met Giuliano and other dancers who fascinated me because their imagination was somewhere else. So I start thinking that if I do a small action but I do it really good it can be as effective as a backflip. That is why I am trying to focus on details. I think it is about sensitivity but also imagination.
I totally worked on it, you should put your attention on it. It is the same as you learn and practice different steps and positions and techniques every day. It is a work about changing the point of view in the movement. I like to discover how you can be more generous and give people the possibility to join what you are doing.”
-Do you think that dance and theatre are separated?
“Maybe the institutions separated them. These two arts are linked together, but for me every kind of art can be linked: crazy pieces put together singing, acting, dancing. It is just the same when you try to mix different styles: b-boy and ballet on the paper are opposite, but I saw people mix them in an amazing way. What is dancing at the end? It is doing movement in reason. I can do a really simple action, but if I repeat it and I put a reason in it, it becomes a dance, you just have to want it.”
-You do a lot of dance battles. Why are you fascinated by that world?
“Because I come from there. I love this environment because you can be whoever you want, you can dance how you want, and I never saw anywhere else the crazy things that happen there, especially in the small underground battle when something happens between you, the music and the audience, every time is unique. I’m so proud to come from this culture.”
-You were touring with Yoann Bourgeois. How can you define his work?
“He is interesting. I love his way to approach the trampoline because he utilized it in the simplest way, while in this world, everyone wants to push crazy skills. He is able to fascinate people just by falling and coming up. He worked on it so much that his quality is amazing.”
-You also worked with James Thierrèe. How does his work influence you? And what do you like about that artist?
“ He is one of the best dancers of the world even if he doesn’t come from dance, he is just crazy. I was following him because I was fascinated by him and he is the director of his own pieces, plays in it, dances, acts,and plays music. But especially in the dance and acting. I could not decide if he is a crazy dancer who is good at acting or a crazy actor who is good at dancing but he shows me that it is possible to be in the line between dance and acting and mix these together. He is universal, his stages are always so inventive. I joined one of his pieces, and I was fascinated and honored. He was able to reproduce my way of working on the floor (on which I've been working since 15 years) immediately, with the same quality. After the shows, I thought it would have been hard to reach that level again.”
-How important is improvisation as a performer or in the dance world?
“Improvisation brings a crazy feeling, that is why maybe I like battles, because even if you worked on steps and styles, who cares? That is why I want to try cinema because for me it can be like a battle: you have a scene, but when you are recorded you never know what can come out, and this moment will happen just one. I love this idea.”
-Why do you love photography?
“I can be in the present with my camera. Sometimes I don’t want to be in front of things, I don’t want to be seen. This is a paradox because I’m always on stage. I also think that I’m empathic and for me it is really interesting to just watch people and see what I find interesting and beautiful. With the camera, I’m also able to see things differently: everyone is different and unique. I’m a bit melancolique, and pictures are a way to express it. It is nice to express your sensitivity also with different mediums.”
-If you should define yourself as an artist with three words, what would you say?
“Curious, sensitive, performative, because I love to perform.
Everything is about paradox. Loving small things, but loving to perform. Love to perform in front of an audience, but at the same time wanted to be hidden sometimes.”
-Can you give some advice to young dancers?
“Don’t limit yourself in whatever topic: styles, meeting, works. Be curious, but for real. Watch a lot of movies, shows, listen to a lot of music, go to see exhibitions of photography. And when you like something try to go deep and understand why you like it. Understand the process that makes you like something. Don’t hesitate to contact people to understand what they do. And learn a lot, because it is a never ending process. In everything you do, try to learn.”
Thank you so much to Mehdi for these beautiful messages, we are honored that we could interview him and share his thoughts with others!
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