FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY – February 20, 2015
Months ahead of the opening of Guadeloupe Islands’ highly-anticipated Memorial ACTe, the Caribbean Center dedicated to the memory and history of Slavery, Guadeloupean Chantal Loïal, performed twice in the U.S. this winter as a part of her tour, entitled “On t’appelle Vénus” or, “They Call You Venus.” The show is a tribute to Sarah Baartman, a South African woman better known as the Hottentot Vénus. In the early 1800s, Baartman, a slave, was brought to Europe where she was exhibited for public display. In “On T’Appelle Vénus,” Loïal uses choreography to pay homage to Baartman legacy; creating a moving tribute not just to black women, but all women. In 2015, Loïal received the Légion d'honneur, the highest French Recognition, for her work in the arts.
Later this spring, on May 10, 2015, French President François Hollande and 27 heads of state will inaugurate Guadeloupe Islands' Mémorial ACTe museum, on the grounds of a former sugar factory on the water in Pointe-à-Pitre. Loïal will also perform at the opening ceremony in May. Both of these happenings stem from the UNESCO-launched the Slave Route Project, a global initiative now in its 20th year to promote the rapprochement of peoples through the shared legacy of this tragedy. "For UNESCO, remembrance is a key part of the fight against racism," an UNESCO statement reads. "Transmitting the history of the slave trade strengthens the foundations for peace, and deepens respect for human rights." 150 years after the abolition of slavery, there is still much untold about the difficulties and struggles of bondage in the Guadeloupe Islands. This cultural institution seeks to preserve the memory of those that suffered during slavery, as well as foster dialogue about the repercussions and begin to construct a historical conservation of the epoch.
Ms. Loïal two performances in America took place on February 23 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and then, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine on February 28. .
Produced in association with her dance company, Difé Kako and Paco Dècina, Loïal’s performances fuse Gwoka, the UNESCO-recognized, traditional rhythmic dance from the Guadeloupe Islands with other Afro-Caribbean movement.