Claudio Rabe, a talented Malagasy choreographer, dancer, and musician, has been selected as one of the winners of the "Demain sera mien" project by the Fondation HY, launched in June. His ambitious seven-year program, "XY," explores the intersection of chromosomes, genes, and artistic genesis. As the son of a Malagasy choreographer, Rabe grew up surrounded by the world of dance, particularly hip-hop. For 16 years, he was part of the AndRabe dance company and collaborated with numerous national and international choreographers.
Rabe has established himself in the industry through various creations, including Gaigylahy (2010), Sun Above (2011), and Je suis (2014). His choreographic writing focuses on the identity of men and women, as seen in his piece Er'ngia (The Guys), which explores masculinity. The piece was re-adapted in March 2016 by three Reunionese dancers during a residency at the Cité des Arts in Saint-Denis. Rabe's work #31# ("unknown" in telephone language), presented at the Masa Festival in Côte d'Ivoire in March, is an autobiographical piece that shares his journey as a dancer and a man.
In #31#, Rabe takes the audience on an inner journey of madness and desires. As the son of a choreographer, he was programmed to dance, but he discovered rap and found a way to break free from institutional dance. He created a separation between the two worlds, living with the constraint of dancing to stay normal in the eyes of his loved ones and finding freedom in rap to avoid going crazy. At 18, he had an epiphany during a festival participation and, after training, fully committed to his true self through dance.
Rabe aims to use dance for the education of young people, which led him to found the My Crew dance company in 2013. The collective of six dancers focuses on cultural and sustainable development actions, particularly in the Antsinanana region, where he originated. They created Art-iAry, an international urban landscape dance festival, to raise awareness about city cleanliness in Toamasina and Fénérive-Est. In 2017, the company became an association and built the first eco-village tourist site in Toamasina.
Currently based in La Réunion, Rabe has recreated My Crew and is also devoted to music, one of his earliest passions. He has been making music in parallel with dance and has never stopped. Since last year, he has been working seriously on his music, collaborating with young Malagasy musicians, including Saïra on arrangements. His first EP, RVB.E, is linked to colors – red earth, green vegetation, blue sky, and exchanges.
Rabe's creations and ongoing projects are part of his grand XY project, a seven-year artistic program that symbolizes the understanding of the universe. The project relates to chromosomes, the idea of life, body, and creation. With the company, he has seven years to implement seven realizations, some of which have already begun, with a restitution planned for 2026.
Through his work, Rabe reflects on the color of his music, between electronic, hip-hop, and traditional sounds, and its connection to the issue of skin color, a current topic. His innovative projects and commitment to using dance for education and sustainable development have earned him recognition in the art world.
Key points
- Claudio Rabe's seven-year program, "XY," explores the intersection of art, identity, and sustainable development.
- Rabe's work focuses on the identity of men and women, as seen in his piece Er'ngia (The Guys), which explores masculinity.
- Rabe aims to use dance for the education of young people through his My Crew dance company and various cultural projects.
