Hervé Koubi: Sol Invictus
Herve Koubi’s Sol Invictus stands as a fervent ode to the unifying power of dance, set against the insignificance of our human existence. Koubi once again curated a group of exceptionally talented dancers, sourced party through social media, creating a diverse ensemble with varied backgrounds, appearances, and skills, originating from all corners of the globe. This eclectic mix includes hip-hoppers, battle champions, but also dancers who have developed their own training and routines in the Amazon region or Siberia.
The dance piece is set to a combination of new compositions by Maxime Bodson and Mikael Karlsson, alongside excerpts from Beethoven's 7th Symphony and Steve Reich's Four Sections. Music that, according to Koubi, mainly expresses hope and to which – in Karlsson's case – you simply “must dance to”.
An important role is also reserved for the set design, in which a large golden canvas, as a symbol of the sun, occupies a central place. Koubi: “Sol Invictus, 'the unconquered sun', not only refers to the Roman god of the sun but also to a ritual during the annual Roman Midwinter festival. This ritual celebrated the passing of the darkest days, anticipating better, sunnier days ahead. And that celebration, that hope, for me, is precisely what Sol Invictus is all about.
Music by Mikael Karlsson, Maxime Bodson, Steve Reich, Ludwig van Beethoven