KMs of Resistance by Mehdi Dahkan

KMs of Resistance is a choreographic and sound performance that explores the primordial act of breathing as a means of expressing resistance and inspiring collective action. It draws inspiration from the Aïta, a Moroccan oral tradition historically used to transmit messages and incite resistance during the French Protectorate in Morocco. Reimagined in a contemporary context, the work offers a subtle way of confronting the urgent issues of today, particularly in contexts where direct speech is silenced or censored. The work exists in two versions: a duo and a quartet. In both, performers offer synchronized and choreographed rhythmic sequences using only their breath, voices, and bodies. By placing breath at the center as the essential sonic material of resistance, the work creates a form of protest without slogans or shouts. Breath then becomes a symbolic reminder of what unites us at the most fundamental level: our need for air, our fragility, our interdependence, and the urgency felt when our survival is at stake. Credits: Choreography: Mehdi Dahkan Production: Cie Jil Z Coproductions: Forecast Platform; Ettijahat – Independent Culture; CCN du Havre Normandie; AFAC – Arab Fund for Arts & Culture; IN SITU Platform; CNAREP Lieux Publics; Forside Metropolis. Residency Support: Institut Français du Maroc, Tanger; PimOff Theater Milan; Swiss Council; ProHelvetia; Kaserne Basel; Centre chorégraphique Pole Pike; Centro BASE & Zona K Milan.