Tentacle Tribe

Born from a Canadian-Swedish alliance between choreographer-performers Emmanuelle Lê Phan and Elon Höglund, Tentacle Tribe combines their experience and creativity to transcend the boundaries between street and contemporary dance with a unique signature. Rooted in Hip Hop concepts, their movement vocabulary draws from the essence of Breaking and Popping, as well as from the physicality of the animal kingdom, with a strong emphasis on partnering work. Whether performing as a duo or in a group, they create a symbiosis of bodies and optical illusions that captivate and engage audiences. Constantly seeking innovation, the duo integrates technology and interdisciplinarity in the service of dance.

As seasoned performers deeply rooted in the street dance community, Lê Phan and Höglund are also committed to its growth and outreach, and to making their creations accessible to the widest possible audience. In addition to producing works in various formats to showcase their discipline in diverse settings—from theatres and cinemas to public spaces and the Web—they train the next generation through their company, leading workshops and creating commissioned pieces in both the dance and circus worlds.

With nine stage creations, six films, and significant national and international exposure, Tentacle Tribe is expanding its impact on the development of street dance through the launch of the Coro Casse street dance festival in Quebec City.

Biographies

Originally from Ottawa, Emmanuelle Lê Phan has been developing her own style of contemporary Hip Hop by blending her background in breaking with her studies in contemporary dance. She is the co-founder of Tentacle Tribe, alongside Swedish choreographer Elon Höglund. Together, they have created internationally touring works such as Nobody Likes a Pixelated Squid, Origami Mami, Threesixnine (recipient of a Prix de la danse), Ghost, and Prisme. Since 1999, under the alias b-girl Cleopatra, Emmanuelle has stood out internationally as a competitor and judge in the breaking category.
After earning her BFA in contemporary dance from Concordia University in 2003, she co-founded the Solid State Breakdance Collective and performed with Rubberbandance, Bboyizm, and Out Innerspace Dance Theatre. In 2005, Emmanuelle joined the creation of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, performing the show for two years in Las Vegas. In 2009, she took part in the creation of ID by Cirque Éloize, touring with the production for several years. Now based in Quebec City, Emmanuelle choreographed Miroir Boudoir, which toured in seven cities across the province. As an active member of the local dance community, she is deeply committed to the development of street dancers, organizing battles, classes, open practices, and soon, the Coro Casse Festival at the Grand Théâtre de Québec.

Born in Stockholm into an artistic family, Elon Höglund grew up inspired by Hip Hop, martial arts, and urban dance forms. His training in Kung Fu, Capoeira, and Tae Kwon Do feeds his passion for movement. As a choreographer and dancer, he has collaborated with Cirque du Soleil and other prestigious companies around the world. In 2012, he co-founded Tentacle Tribe with Emmanuelle Lê Phan, creating multiple award-winning works. A multidisciplinary artist, Elon also explores music composition, painting, and filmmaking. He is currently working on Dirt, his latest project as an independent choreographer.

Recent work : Prism

A quintet of dancers move between a reflective floor and movable mirror panels that they can manipulate from different angles. Kaleidoscopically multiplied tenfold, their bodies seamlessly unite and intermingle, in synergy with Höglund’s music. Prism opens up a myriad of possibilities, distorting perspec- tives and deconstructing movement into infinite combinations of colourful images. A dreamlike journey with a truly hypnotic effect.

Choreography – Emmanuelle Lê Phan  & Elon Höglund

Performers – Emmanuelle Lê Phan, Elon Höglund, Rahime Gay-Labbé,  Céline Richard-Robichon, Mecdy Jean-Pierre

Set design – Charles Cormier

Set design adaptation – Rahime Gay-Labbé

Light design – Benoit Larivière

Music – Elon Höglund

Co-Production – Diagramme Gestion Culturelle & Danse Danse

Financial support – Conseil des arts et des lettre du Québec, Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts de Montréal

Residency – CCOV, Centre Culturel Notre-dame-des-prairies, Maison de la Culture Notre-Dame-de-Grâce