Mahamat and his choice of the circus: a unique journey between family heritage and the desire for emancipation.
How do you explain to a mother who fought to bring her children to France and give them the best that her son is giving up his career as an engineer to join the circus? Through this solo dance and circus performance, Mahamat, who was born in Ivory Coast and grew up in France, explores the tension between his personal aspirations and social expectations, while addressing themes of family debt, culture shock, and everyday racism. An intimate and universal reflection on the quest for self.
Mahamat was born in 1995 in Ivory Coast. He arrived in France at the age of nine, and his family nicknamed him “big head” because he was constantly buried in books. After studying engineering at the École des Mines de Paris, he worked in solar energy for Bouygues, then decided to give it all up for the circus, joining the Académie Fratellini as an acrobat-dancer. This solo piece traces the life journey of this artist born on the African continent, who feels compelled to succeed in order not to disappoint or betray. With a lot of physicality and very few words, Mahamat reveals his vision of the world and takes us on a choreographic journey where emotion flirts with virtuosity. A necessary, visceral dance, reflecting the tensions that concern us all: accepting our individual choices or responding to the demands of a family, a social environment, a generation. It is an energy that must come out of the body, imploding then exploding, reflecting the latent cognitive dissonance of our world.
Cast
Solo with and by /
Mahamat Fofana /
Co-written and directed by /
Clément Dazin
Writing and dramaturgy assistance /
Cédric Orain
Lighting design and operation /
Tony Guérin
Sound design /
Lisa Chevalier
Sound operation/
Mathieu Ferrasson
Administration, production, and distribution /
La Magnanerie – Anne Herrmann, Victor Leclère, Hortense Huyghues-Despointes, Juliette Repessé, Margot Moroux
Production /
La Main de l’Homme
Residency scheduled to end on October 10, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde (PPCM).
Created in 1992, Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde (PPCM) aims to use the circus arts to contribute to the vitality of its region. Multifaceted, it is at once a school of circus arts and urban cultures, an artistic residence, a show production company, and a meeting place. Today, the PPCM is internationally recognized as a cultural organization with a strong social mission: to mobilize art and culture for the civic, economic, and urban development of the regions in which it operates.
Learn more about the Company
Clément Dazin creates open circus performances, drawing on his past experiences in dance, circus, juggling, and gymnastics. Inspired by contemporary themes, his shows break down barriers between disciplines, disregarding the boundaries between circus, dance, and live performance.
A non-profit company governed by the French law of 1908, La Main de l’Homme has strong links with juggling and the circus in general, but also with movement and dance in particular. Based in Strasbourg, the company has been involved in creation, dissemination, artistic activities, and education since its creation in 2016. Very active locally, it also presents its shows at major international festivals, from Rio de Janeiro to Taipei, via Paris, Potsdam, and Turin. Since its inception, the company has been strongly supported by La Brèche and the Théâtre d’Elbeuf – Deux Pôles cirque en Normandie – PNAC. Follow the latest news