Compagnie Hervé Koubi: Sol Invictus

This performance is part of the Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency made possible by a major gift to Union College from Gus (class of ’59) and Sue Davis in memory of their daughter.

Led by imaginative choreographer Hervé Koubi, Compagnie Hervé brings the mesmerizingly kinetic Sol Invictus to Albany! Named after the “invincible sun” deity of Ancient Rome, the work is a gravity-defying fusion of contemporary movement, capoeira, and urban dance that transforms the stage into a playground for possibilities. It upholds love as the guarantor of peace, asserting that despite fracture, communion remains humanity’s saving grace.

The performance is set to a transcendent score featuring a composition by Mikael Karlsson, alongside evocative excerpts by Steve Reich and digital composer Maxime Bodson. Reflecting on the work’s radiant spirit, Koubi explains: “I want to talk about light, solidarity, and those bonds that unite us. Here, the sun and the dance will emerge victorious.”

“The dancers of Compagnie Hervé Koubi…could be mistaken for gods. They glide, spin, toss one another in high arcs through the air, exhibiting an uncanny mastery of the body, and a gravitas that renders their movements into poetry.” — The New Yorker

Compagnie Hervé Koubi:
Hervé Koubi began his journey as a contemporary dancer for acclaimed choreographers such as Karine Saporta, Claude Brumachon or Thierry Smits. In 2000, he launched his own choreographic project, initially driven by an interest in tradition and the way movement is passed down through generations. His work seeks to bridge the gap between the social dances and the cultures of today with a dance that gathers, unites, and builds links between people.

 A search for his roots led Koubi to Algeria, where he underwent a creative transformation through a pivotal encounter with urban dance. Since then, he has explored the «porosity» of movement, blending technical and aesthetic styles to create a language that defies traditional categories. Since 2017, Koubi has collaborated closely with dancer and choreographer Fayçal Hamlat, whom he met while serving as the choreographer for the National Ballet of Algiers. Their partnership is built on a unique exchange: while Koubi moved from contemporary dance toward hip-hop, Hamlat took the opposite path. Together, they redefine 21st-century ballet as a field choreography -an inclusive practice that honors history while remaining vibrantly modern. In 2015, Koubi was appointed a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.