Mehdi Kerkouche

Mehdi Kerkouche, a child of television and images, began his career as a professional dancer before he was even 18. His passion for dance was strengthened by his experiences on stage as a dancer, which led him to embrace choreography. He soon became a teacher, notably at AID (Académie Internationale de la Danse), as well as at Studio Harmonic or Lax Studio in Paris, and was invited to numerous festivals in France and abroad, such as in Italy, Japan or Quebec.
In 2017, after collaborating with prestigious artists such as Christine and the Queens and staging numerous shows for TV, film and advertising, he founded his own company, EMKA, with the ambition of connecting different bodies and styles through energetic, poetic gesture.
It was during the first confinement that the general public bonded over his work thanks to his creative initiatives, notably his confined videos and the creation of the On Danse Chez Vous solidarity festival. These actions earned her the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite from the French Minister of Culture. In 2020, Aurélie Dupont, then director of the Paris Opera Ballet, gave him carte blanche to create a piece, testifying to his influence and striking presence in the world of dance.
On January 1, 2023, Mehdi Kerkouche was appointed Director of the Centre Chorégraphique National de Créteil et du Val-de-Marne. In this role, he continues to develop his own creations, supports the emergence of young choreographers and aims to set up a digital studio to support dance artists in this constantly evolving sector.
Since then, he has continued to collaborate with major artists such as Angèle, while continuing his work with the company. His latest creation, Portrait, met with great success in France and abroad, while the latest edition of the On Danse Chez Vous festival drew 6,500 spectators to Chaillot – Théâtre national de la danse.

Source: Maison de la danse