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Performance: "Bouffées" by Leïla Ka
Five women stand motionless, their cheeks streaming with tears. What sorrow do they carry—and does it truly belong to them? With *Bouffées*, Leïla Ka imagines how to heal “the incurable”: not by erasing it, but by transforming it into collective strength and a surge of life. Premiered in 2022 as part of the Danse Élargie competition at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris—where it won first Award —this striking 15-minute piece has since toured international stages, been added to the repertoire of the Wiesbaden Ballet in Germany, and amassed over 15 million views on social media.
Dates and times
Saturday, October 3, 7:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Address
Marseille Wharf, Eure Basin
With over 15 million views on social media and performances in Japan, the United States, Argentina, and across Europe, *Bouffées* has, in just fifteen minutes, reached an audience far beyond French stages and established itself as a play with exceptional reach.
Created in 2022 by Leïla Ka for the Théâtre de la Ville’s “Danse Élargie” competition in Paris, *Bouffées* made a strong impression right from its first performance, winning first Award. Since then, this short yet powerful piece has continued to tour, travel, and reach diverse audiences, eventually joining the repertoire of the Ballet de Wiesbaden in Germany in 2025.
On stage, five women stand motionless, facing the audience. Their cheeks are streaked with tears. What grief do they carry? Does it truly belong to them? With *Bouffées*, Leïla Ka imagines how to heal the “incurable”: not by erasing it, but by embracing it, working through it, and transforming it into strength, into collective power, into a renewal of life.
Driven by a rare intensity, *Bouffées* condenses raw, immediate, and deeply universal emotion into fifteen minutes. A short, striking piece that has become iconic, it continues to make an impact on international stages as well as in the digital realm.
Leïla Ka
Leïla Ka has created choreographies for Beyoncé, the César Awards ceremony, Zaho de Sagazan, and the National Ballet of Chile. Drawing on her urban and contemporary influences, she has made a name for herself in the dance world in just a few years. She began her journey in urban dance at age 16; without formal training, she auditioned for Maguy Marin and became a performer in her famous piece *May B*. She then turned her hand to choreography. Her first three solo and duet pieces achieved international success and were performed in more than 20 countries. Leïla Ka won the Danse Élargie competition at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and created her first group piece, *Maldonne*, which became an international phenomenon within a few months.The piece has been on a continuous tour for three years, from a sold-out show at the Olympia to Colombia, and from the United States to Serbia. Leïla Ka is an associate artist at La Garance, the national theater of Cavaillon; at DSN, the national theater of Dieppe; at MC2, the national theater of Grenoble; at the national theater of Malkoff; and at Rive Gauche, the state-subsidized theater of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. The company has received support from the BNP Paribas Foundation since 2024 and from the Caisse des Dépôts since 2025.
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