KoKerBoom

“Desiré Davids has also had a great impact on the Dance Festival Seine -Saint Denis. She bridges the cleavage between tradition and modernity by delving freely into the classical, contemporary and traditional repertoires. An innovative and technical dancer she is radiant in her individuality. If women can be counted in Companies on the African Continent, she, for her part, gives without counting”

Liberation - Paris 6 June 2005

A dancer, choreographer and teacher, Desiré graduated from the University of Cape Town Ballet School with a Teacher’s Diploma (1990) as well as a Performer’s Certificate in Dance (1991).

From 1992 – 1998 She worked as soloist and principal performer with 2 of South Africa's major dance companies.

​

In 1996, with fellow South African Boyzie Cekwana, she co- founded the company "Floating Outfit Project"

The company has received International recognition as one of Africa’s ground breaking and cutting edge performance companies and has toured extensively in Europe, Africa as well as the USA.

In 1999 she received the award for “Most Outstanding Female Performer” for her performance in «Rona» which won 1st prize at the 3rd International African and Indian Ocean Choreography Competition in Madagascar, after which she also embarked on various projects between Denmark and South Africa.

In 2003 she completed a business management course to assist with the further development of their company.

​

Montpellier Danse, Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, Les Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales de Seine -Saint Denis, Avignon Festival, Centre National de la Danse Paris and Theatre de la Ville... Desiré has over the past years performed at major Festivals and Theaters in France, but also worked with companies in Denmark, Sweden, USA as well as with choreographers Robyn Orlin, Salia nï Seydo, Opio Okach, Faustin Linyekula, Vincent Mantsoe & Pascal Montrouge .

​

Her work «WHO IS THIS?...Beneath My Skin» in collaboration with French photographer Pascale Beroujon premiered to great acclaim at the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival in Durban, South Africa in 2010 .

She completed the 2nd phase of this work during residencies at C.N.C.D.C. de Châteauvallon, Ollioules and Agora Cité Internationale de la Danse in Montpellier, France respectively.

​

For the creation of her personal work, Desiré has been the recipient of various residencies notably the residency exchange program between Théâtres Départementaux de La Réunion and Centre National de la Danse, Pantin (Paris) as well as a 6 month residency fellowship during 2014 at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany where she created 2 works: TRIO Sans Titre and NO THERE YES MAYBE HERE in collaboration with 4 other artists. 2015/16 saw her joining forces with fellow female choreographers Gaby Saranouffi (Madagascar) & Edna Jaime (Mozambique) for «LADY, LADY»

​

Apart from her growing International collaborations, Desiré continues to engage and develop dance through workshops and mentoring within and around South Africa as with «THE colouRED CHAMELEON Project» in Cape Town and «PRESS: Reset» in Durban. In March 2016 their company The Floating Outfit Project hosted artists and presenters from 13 different countries during “Phomolongtrain – Station”, a week long event of public presentations and exchange in Durban.

On 7 October 2017 «TRANSIT» Desiré's latest solo will premiere during Festival Question de Danse at KLAP Maison pour la Danse à Marseille (France) followed immediately by performances at the Baxter Dance Festival in Cape Town, South Africa on 11 & 12 October.

​

2019/20/21/22 "AND SO IT GOES"(version Trio e t Quintet) - coproduite et creee au CCM Limoges

avec des residences a KLAP Maison pour la Danse a Marseille, Théâtres Châteauvallon- Liberte a

Toulon et Théâtres en Dracénie à Draguignan

2021/22 "Aux bulles du Monde" Participation solo à la création de 8m3 de M.Kelemenis

​

2023 creation "XV de Danse" : Premiere Septembre 4th in Toulon + clip video Flashmob