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Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève + Eastman

Ihsane
Sidi larbi Cherkaoui
Show
2025/2026
Geneva

Quest for identity

A monumental work, Ihsane is a stunning initiatory quest featuring some twenty performers, a vocal duo, and an instrumental ensemble at the crossroads of the Middle East and the West.

WARNING
Sensitive images (short video excerpt).

Every work by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is an event—you may recall Sutra with its Shaolin monks! With total openness, this brilliant and visionary creator, who has been the artistic director of the prestigious Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève since 2022, never ceases to build bridges between artistic disciplines. « Ihsane », which means “kindness” and “benevolence” in Arabic, is an invitation to commune with the universe. Surrounded by talents from throughout the Middle East, Cherkaoui retraces his family history in a sumptuously portrayed Morocco, from the music to the decor, reconciling memory and the present.Enveloped in a rich soundscape created by Tunisian composer Jasser Haj Youssef, the dance—poetic and introspective—transcends conflicts, abandonment, and oblivion. With dazzling clarity, it opens unsuspected doors between beings and cultures. A rare, authentic experience of striking beauty.

Before and after the show!

Wednesday, October 1
Excerpts from the film Don't Put Me in a Box by Romain Girard ✦ Live performance by Mohamed Masmoudi, oud ✦ Bar.

Thursday, October 2

Excerpts from the film Don't Put Me in a Box by Romain Girard ✦ Villes Éternelles album by Mohamed Masmoudi ✦ Danse Danse playlist ✦ Bar.

Friday, October 3

Excerpts from the film Don't Put Me in a Box by Romain Girard ✦ Live performance by Mohamed Masmoudi, oud ✦ Bar.

Saturday, October 4

Excerpts from the film Don't Put Me in a Box by Romain Girard ✦ Villes Éternelles album by Mohamed Masmoudi ✦ Danse Danse playlist ✦ Bar.

Artist(s)

Choreographer
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui defies easy description: choreographer, opera director, dancer, composer, pianist, draughtsman... and a maker who works across multiple disciplines and platforms including cinema, Broadway, music videos, opera, museums and community art.

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Company

Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève

Founded in 1961, the Ballet of the Grand Théâtre de Genève has been shaped since its inception by major figures in the dance world, including George Balanchine, Oscar Araiz, Giorgio Mancini, and Philippe Cohen. The company has undergone significant transformations with the arrival of its new director and resident choreographer, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

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Eastman

Founded in January 2010, Eastman was set up to produce and promote the work of its artistic director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

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Credits

World Premiere November 13, 2024, Grand Théâtre de Genève

Co-producers Eastman, Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris), Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, Tanz Köln , Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Festspielhaus St. Pölten, Grec Festival Barcelona 2025, Centre National des Arts (Ottawa).

Choreography Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Scenography Amine Amharech.

Costumes Amine Bendriouich.

Lighting Fabiana Piccioli

Music Jasser Haj Youssef.

Video Maxime Guislain.

Dramatist El Arbi El-Harti.

Sound design Alexandre Dai Castaing.

Rehearsal director Manuel Renard.

Choreographic assistants Pascal Marty, Patrick Williams Seebacher.

Musicians Jasser Haj Youssef - viole d’amour. Gaël Cadoux/Guillaume Poncelet - piano Rhodes. Nizar Rohana – Oud. Gabriele Miracle Bragantini – percussion.

Singers Mohammed El Arabi Serghini, Fadia Tomb El-Hage.

Dancers of Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève & Eastman.

Texts Timothy Winter, John Owuchekwa, RTL TV Les Orages de la Vie, Jason Silva.

Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève

Executive director Aviel Cahn.

Ballet director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Partner of Ballet du Grand Théâtre INDOSUEZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT.

With support from DANCE REFLECTIONS by Van Cleef & Arpels.

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