ACTES DU DESERT
LES AUTEURS 2016
STUDIES
Valerie Miquel was born in Paris (France) and began her study of classical dance at age 6. She started dancing professionally at age 12 for Janine Solane’s dance company. For over 8 years, she danced the entire repertoire (performing also as soloist). Meanwhile, she continued her studies in Paris and learned a variety of techniques: Theatre (Fred Basilio) Indian Dance (Bharatha Natyam), Pantomime, Contemporary Dance, Modern Dance (Martha Graham, Maurice Béjart), and Jazz Dance.
She received diplomas to teach dance in Classical, Contemporary, and Jazz Dance and Theatre and made several scholarships from the French Ministry of Culture to continue to perfect her dancing style with Merce Cunningham and his company, and with Rick Odums (United States). She also went to India for 6 months to learn Kathak Dance and perfect Baratha Natyam.
She started also to initiate herself to meditation (Zen, Baratha Natyam, Vipasana, Yoga) and never stopped to meditate since that time.
Since 2002 until 2007 she has been practicing Ki-aikido in Germany.
CHOREOGRAPHER/DANCER IN EUROPE
At the age of 20 she created her first Ballet, “Le fil d'Ariane” and was invited by Linas/Monthlery near Paris to run a school as a dancing teacher and choreographer. She was teaching Contemporary, Classical, Jazz Dance, Gym and Theatre. There she has also been invited to found the “Compagnie de Danse Contemporaine de Linas” and created two ballets and theater plays every year.
Since 1996, she has travelled extensively throughout Europe and regularly works as choreographer, dancer and teacher of performing arts.
Valérie Miquel was also the director and solo dancer for the “Trio Musique Visuelle”, which consisted of two musicians and 1 dancer. Prior to coming to Kampala she created 20 ballets.
CHOREOGRAPHER DANCER IN AFRICA
Since September 2007 she has choreographed and directed the Uganda National Contemporary Ballet (formerly the Burudani Dance Company). She moved to Uganda the following year.
In November 2008 Valérie Miquel was invited by Alliance Française and Godown Center in Nairobi, Kenya to create “Négritudes” with the Kunja Dance Company.
Since 2008 the UNCB has performed monthly at the National Theatre. Valérie Miquel has created 23 new pieces such as “Solidarity,” Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” and “The Middle Way,” “Bolero,” “Just for Fun, “Out of Control,” ‘The power of hope” (about Darfur), “Wo/men Why?”, “Kadogos”,...
In July 2015 she travels with her dancers in Tanzania (Arusha) to perform KADOGOS.
In November 2015 she premiered with UNCB her new Production THE TICKING BOMB IS RUNNING OUT - OUR WORLD IS IN DANGER about the climate change with a big success.
SOLO DANCER
Prior coming to Uganda, she created several solos in Paris VISIONS , NON, in Germany FLASHES. For 5 years she danced as solo dancer with “Trio Musique Visuelle”.
In November 2011, Ms. Miquel has presented her new solo production, “Cry for Women’s Dignity.” and has performed it in Paris in January 2012, in July 2013 in Athens, in December 2014 in London (WACART) and in September 2015 during the International Festival Bayimba in Kampala.
January 2015, she is the first dancer in the history of the church ST SULPICE in Paris, allowed to perform a new solo PRESENCE inspired by the installation of Anne POIVILLIERS.
TEACHER AND COACH
Valérie Miquel has also been invited to give African Contemporary Dance workshops with other dancers or dance companies (Break Dance Project, In Movement) and has worked with orphaned children (Orphanage Kayda/Youth Development Association) and with refugees of Sudan to help women who have been raped to take again possession of their bodies.
She is also teaching Theatre and Body Expression at the International French School, Kampala Junior Academy School 2015) in Kampala and for the street children of God’s Grace Child Care Centre.
She gives workshops of her own method MOVE YOUR BODY AND FREE YOUR MIND .
REWARDS
In 2011 she receives a Grant from Ghana, the African Women’s Development Fund to support her work with UNCB as a committed dance company working for the women.
In December 2012 she receives on the stage of the Serena Conference Hall with all the dancers of UNCB the EAA award of best EAA Dance Group.
In March 2013, after having been nominated by the President on CID / UNESCO, she becomes a member of CID International Dance Council and participate to the 35th World Congress of Dance in Athens (end of July).
In October 2013 she receives the Pearl of Africa Lifetime Achievement Award (PALITA AWARD) and is accredited in the 2013-2014 UGANDA WHO IS WHO BOOK OF RECORD.
Dec 2015, she is invited at the Tribune of UNESCO Paris, to present her work in Uganda in front of all the members around the world of CID-UNESCO.
VALERIE MIQUEL
Member of the International Dance Council / CID
2013 Pearl of Africa Lifetime Achievement Award (PALITA AWARD)
Certified Member of the 2013-2014 Uganda Who is Who Book of Records
EAA AWARD 2012 BEST EDUTAINMENT AFRICA DANCE GROUP
FINALISTS 2013 OF “LE REVE AFRICAIN”
Les Actes du désert / ©Jean-Pierre Hamon 2012 - Réalisation graphique : C.Galatry 2012
Alliance française, Kampala - juin 2016
