Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui on Chomsky, Fracture, and Dance at Romaeuropa Festival

The Romaeuropa Festival opened its 2017-2018 edition with performances by Sasha Waltz and Rimini Protokoll, inspired by the question 'Where are we now?'. On September 26-27, the Auditorium Conciliazione hosts the premiere of Fractus V, a new production by Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. The work merges dance with texts by linguist Noam Chomsky, exploring the conflict between information and propaganda in the age of social media. Cherkaoui, 41, explains that Chomsky's analysis of society has been a red thread since his university studies. The performance also incorporates writings by philosopher Alan Watts, contrasting societal critique with individual spirituality. Fractus V features dancers from Germany, USA, France, Spain, Belgium, Morocco, Japan, Korea, India, and Congo, blending hip hop, contemporary techniques, and diverse cultural backgrounds. The title refers to fracture—physical, metaphorical, and identity-related—reflecting Cherkaoui's own dual heritage as Moroccan and Belgian. The choreographer emphasizes the need for solidarity with migrants and a reevaluation of political systems, calling for 'politician-thinkers' like Chomsky. The interview was conducted for the festival program.