Rémy Kouakou Kouamé,
Artistic Director of the Swinging Montpellier Festival
When he hits the stage, he immediately captures the attention of his audience. His energy and smile are infectious, and his talent is recognized far beyond the borders of France. Rémy Kouakou Kouamé, a Montpellier-born artist, dancer, performer, choreographer and DJ, has been the festival’s artistic director since 2023. But he’s much more than that: he’s the festival’s creative driving force, a jazz swing ambassador rooted in a tradition that he shares with a resolutely contemporary vision. Alongside Lorène Delcor, who is driven by the same dynamic, he shapes an event in perpetual evolution. An exceptional dancer, as passionate as he is committed, he possesses the vision that allows an art form to evolve without betraying its essence. With this duo at the helm, the festival reinvents itself without ever losing sight of its original philosophy.
Rémy’s specialty? Swing dances: Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz. But in recent years, he’s taken an equally creative turn, devoting himself to producing events all over the world. “I create platforms so that the new generation can have the opportunities I haven’t always had, or at least they can have more of them.”
Pure expression
Beyond titles and functions, what burns within him is pure expression, the kind that comes through the body when words are no longer enough. “When I was younger, I was really shy. Dance gave me this language that I didn’t have through speech or interaction. When I dance, I express myself fully. I love music, and for me, the best way to feel it is to move, to move within it.” What he transmits is groovy movement, raw freedom and unvarnished sincerity. “I dance above all for myself, not to please others. But if, by remaining honest and honest, I can touch people, then it’s an immense pleasure.”
When a dancer surrenders to the rhythm or a spectator is caught up in the music, Rémy sees it as much more than a simple moment of grace. He detects a rare truth, a suspended moment when the outside world fades away. “These are moments when you forget everything,” he confides. “It’s the absolute letting go, the total anchoring in the present.” Watching these bodies groove, these eyes shine, is for him the most beautiful reward.
Rémy Kouakou Kouamé sees his role as artistic director as a mission: to bring swing to life by honoring its history without locking it into the past. For him, this Afro-American dance, born of rebellion and innovation, deserves a stage that reflects both its roots and its future. “Basically, it was a rebel dance,” he insists. “There’s a vocabulary, fundamental values to respect. But it’s not a museum, we can’t just reproduce it identically. We need to understand its essence to bring it to life today.”
Intergenerational dialogue
His approach is reflected in every artistic decision: he composes line-ups that mix essential figures with emerging talent, creating a dialogue between generations. “I try to bring in artists who have something to say,” he explains. He integrates these young dancers into the creation of the big Saturday night show, giving them visibility on the international scene.
But his commitment goes beyond dance. He wants to broaden the scope of the festival, opening the doors to those who, socially or culturally, share this history but don’t always have access to it. “Too many events are confined to the privileged few,” he laments. Because directing, for him, isn’t just about programming. It’s about giving meaning, creating a space where swing finds its full force and resonance.