artistic direction

Rémy Kouakou Kouamé,

international dancer from Montpellier,
artistic director of the Swinging Montpellier festival

It is an immeasurable asset for the festival to be accompanied by an artistic director, in the person of Rémy Kouakou Kouamé.
For what he represents on the international scene (obviously), for the connections and knowledge he possesses of the milieu, but above all for his thinking, his vision of jazz swing. His analysis of what jazz swing is in Europe, what it should be, and what we want to defend here in Montpellier!
Her presence since the 2022 edition has been essential, giving perspective, nuance and depth to the project. It more surely redefined the festival’s contours, artistic choices, relationships with artists, and innovations… but it also gave the association’s team of volunteers a greater sense of mission, and breathed new life into the work dynamic.
Rémy fell into the pot of Swing dances at a very young age. Distinguished competitor, he has many prestigious titles such as French Champion and World Champion of Boogie Woogie. For several years now, he has also distinguished himself in teaching and thus travels to the largest international festivals in order to share and transmit his passion and knowledge. What he likes to share most of all is the joy that dance gives us. He fights against the intellectualization of dance and militates for fun and feeling. For him dancing is… living… expressing himself!