Raphael Chatelain & Nicolas Huchard, film still from Tajabone
Raphael Chatelain is a director, photographer based in Paris. With strong focus on LGBTQ+ themes and identities, his work delves into the political and humanitarian aspects surrounding the subjects and communities he portrays.
His photographs and videos have been published in Interview Magazine, The Advocate, Rolling Stone Magazine, Wallpaper* Magazine and KingKong Magazine among other publications. His work has been exposed in Museum such as the Mucem.
His film work have been selected at Outfest, Berlin International Art Film Festival, Toronto Short Film Festival and Cannes Short Film Festival.
His photo reporting on the Caravan Migrants is part of the exhibition ‘50+’, exploring the subject of identity and migration in link with the evolution of the LGBTQ+ rights over the past 50 years. and he had a solo exhibition about the Nudist community of l’Ile du Levant exposed throughout the island.
Tajabone (2021) “This is what freedom feels like, baby.” The uncompromising words of musician and writer Mykki Blanco echo over a transcendental parade of a group of empowered queer dancers. A film about the French Black queer community taking pride in who they are, what they have achieved, and embracing the bodies they are in. Tajabone takes its name from a unique tradition in Senegal, where in addition to singing and dancing through the streets, everyone practices cross-dressing through the night.
“My creative history with New Dance Alliance goes a way long. Since my friend, Chivas Sandage brought me to New Dance Alliance to rehearse in early 90’s, the place has become a part of my creative life. The long time existence of the studio and Performance Mix Festival are vital to the artists who seek and explore deep into their process. Whenever I step into the studio, it’s a new space with a lot of memories. I lie down on the floor, listen to my body, and I dance. It is valuable. The time in the space nurtures my practice and artistic vision. Karen’s vision of Lift-Off residency, feedback sessions, providing peer to peer connections are more significant than ever. It has been helping us to get through 2020 and we are going into 2021.”
– Nami Yamamoto
New Dance Alliance
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