European night of Museums 2026 - PAMOJA, the ball
Wanjiru Kamuyu - Cie WKcollective
Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 20h
Continuous from 20h to 22:30: The permanent tour of the museum is free and in free access from 19:30 to 22h.. Reservation for the ball from 20h to 22h does not give skip-the-line access to the museum.
Forum
Free, by reservation
For the European night of Museums, choreographer and performer Wanjiru Kamuyu launches an irresistible and festive invitation: Dance to gather!
Like a transgenerational choreographic utopia, PAMOJA*, Le Bal (*Ensemble en Kiswahili) draws as much from the legacy of traditional dances as from the gestures and pulsations that inhabit today’s celebrations, igniting clubs, streets and stages around the world. Movements inspired by Dabkeh (Middle East) and Singenge (Tanzania) mingle with those of Detroit hustle USA) or Breton dance (France).
Thought of as an immersive, participatory and joyful experience, this grand ball is a true link between spaces and bodies, rhythms and sounds from all walks of life mixed by DJ Rokia Bamba. Through her music, she builds a sound cartography of the contemporary world where cultures respond. Come and share this moment with Wanjiru Kamuyu, his team and his accomplices. Here, dance is not a diversion: It opens a way.
In parallel with the ball, the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the History of immigration opens its doors until 22 hours
Distribution
An adaptation of the original project SHANGWE*, Le Bal (*Joy in Kiswahili)
Choreography: Wanjiru Kamuyu, in collaboration with Halima Masoud Abdallah, Layla D, DJ Rokia Bamba
Performers: Wanjiru Kamuyu, Elodie Paul, David Gaulein-Stef and Layla D.
Assistant director: David Gaulein-Stef
Music: DJ Rokia Bamba
Sound: Solène Le Thiec
Lights: Carol Oliveira, in collaboration with Cyril Mulon
Production: Camin aktion and Wanjiru Kamuyu
Co-production: CCNN – Centre Chorégraphie National de Nantes, direction Ambra Senatore
Studio loan: With the support of La Ménagerie de Verre as part of the StudioLab device
Wanjiru Kamuyu
Winner in 2026 of the prestigious New York City Bessies Awards in the category “outstanding choreographer”, Wanjiru Kamuyu began her career in New York with choreographers Jawole Zollar and Molissa Fenley.
In Paris, she worked with other major artists such as Robyn Orlin, Bintou Dembele, Bartabas, Jean-Paul Goude and Bill T. Jones in London. She also choreographed for the theater, notably for the directors Jean-François Auguste, Hassan Kassi Kouyate and Jerome Savary.
In 2009, she founded her company WKcollective whose plays are presented in France, Europe, the United States, Asia and several African countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Burundi, South Africa, Rwanda…).
In 2023, she was resident at Villa Albertine (USA), then associated artist at the Nantes Choreographic Centre and Live feed Program artist at New York Live Arts for the seasons 2023/24 and 2024/25. Several of her pieces were presented at the Palais de la Porte Dorée where she also performed as part of new projects (Envers du décor).
https://www.palais-portedoree.fr/programmation/danse/nuit-europeenne-des-musees-2026-pamoja-le-bal
