#JeSuis (In Progress) at Contact

Creative Tourist

Book now

Aakash Odedra Company: #JeSuis (In Progress)

Contact Theatre, Manchester
10-12 October 2017

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

© Sean Goldthorpe
Book now

I was lucky enough to see a preview of #JeSuis (In Progress) during a recent trip to Canada, where Aakash Odedra Company was pitching it to prospective theatres. The dedication and passion of the team was readily apparent – qualities that make them such an important company.

For those unfamiliar with his work, Aakash Odedra is a dancer who has made a career out of making the public move. For this project Odedra was inspired by a group of women he met in Turkey. He made multiple trips to visit them and, slowly, developed the show that was to become #JeSuis.

Using a mixture of contemporary and traditional styles, #JeSuis explores ideas of fluctuation and permanence, stillness and movement. It asks questions like ‘what makes a home?’ and ‘how do we create our identity?’ Further, each show is followed by a presentation from the company, which includes the opportunity for the audience to share their feelings on the subject.

Dance can be quite an abstract art form, but here it explores concrete ideas to great effect. Aakash Odedra is a name that is only going to get bigger in the dance world; enjoy his work in an intimate space at Contact while you still can.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near #JeSuis (In Progress) at Contact

Manchester
Music venue
The Deaf Institute

The Deaf Institute is a vibrant gig venue and nightclub for which it is well worth taking a jaunt out of the Northern Quarter.

Manchester
Catalog Bookshop

Find Peter and his Christiania cargo bike around All Saints Park, a hop, skip and a bunnyhop from Manchester Poetry Library.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Sandbar

Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.

Johnny Roadhouse store
Manchester
Shop
Johnny Roadhouse

Buffeted by fried chicken outlets, legendary musical instrument emporium Johnny Roadhouse has been serving the local music community for over 50 years.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Eighth Day

Eighth Day is a co-operative shop that sells ethically-sourced food, wine and cosmetics. There’s also café that serves hearty, healthy meals in the basement.

Manchester
Event venue
The Proud Place

Based in the heart of Manchester on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

What's on: Dance

DanceManchester
In The Brain at HOME

Part rave, part ritual, Hofesh Shechter’s explosive new dance work transforms HOME into a pulsing space of rhythm and release.

From £22.20

Culture Guides

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre

Dark comedy, visceral dance theatre, Fringe hits and open-air performances on a railway viaduct - try something new this season.

Mermaid Chunky by Simon Pizzey.
Music

From manifesto-wielding DJs to bands blurring gigs with performance art, our music guide is newly stocked with artists who see live music as a place for risk.

Food and Drink in the North

It’s the early-May edition of the Food and Drink Guide and here's where to eat and drink while living out your warm-weather dreams.

a beach. red bricks are laid out in a spiral shape on the sand.
Exhibitions

We’ve got five new Manchester exhibitions this month, from thought-provoking photography to environmental art and community-led projects.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.