As the Welsh national men’s rugby team warm up for the quarter finals of the World Cup against Argentina this weekend, artists and fans are preparing for a celebration on the streets of Marseille.
Over the past month, dancers and singers from Wales have been making their presence felt on the streets of Lyon, Nantes and Paris, encouraging new audiences to discover Welsh talent. Hip hop artist Mace the Great and Carmarthenshire all-female band Adwaith performed in the Rugby Village in Paris, contemporary act Qwerin took their own twist on folk-dancing to Paris and Lyon, where the soprano Jessica Robinson and the Hafodwenog choir also sung across the city to boost the mood for the Australia match.
Joining in the singing in Marseille Rugby Village ahead of the match will be soprano and broadcaster Shân Cothi, who will perform Calon Lân, La Vie en Rose and her new single Byd O Heddwch, released as the Unofficial Rugby World Cup Anthem in celebration of Wales in the tournament. Shân will also be leading the next flash mob choir coordinated by Côr y Gleision who were joined by hundreds last week in Nantes.
Shân Cothi, who presents her own morning radio show on BBC Radio Cymru said:
“Music energises and connects deeply. I’m looking forward to joining the amazing flash mob of singers that we’ve seen on our screens from the streets of France. I recently sang on the Unofficial Wales Rugby World Cup Anthem, Byd o Heddwch - a Welsh language version of ‘World in Union’ which I am hoping to perform out there. We want to get all he Welsh supporters to join in the singing this week and help Wales over that try line. And I hope to meet some Welsh-speaking Argentina supporters from Patagonia too!”
Also this week, Jukebox Collective, a community-rooted, youth-led collective based in Cardiff, is set to represent Wales during the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup 2023 in Marseille. Performing in on the streets of the Old Port at the Marseille Official Rugby Village on the 14th of October, they will dance as part of the "Wales in France Culture Programme 2023."
Directed by Jukebox Collective Founder and Creative Director, Liara Barussi, who is part of team GB’s Breaking Council ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024, the performance will be set to the beats of Little Simmz's "Gorilla”, an unapologetic empowering track about rising to the top. This display showcases the individuality of each dancer and their unique talents.
Jukebox Collective's performance will be a high-energy showcase of street culture. Audiences will be immersed in an array of dance styles, from breaking and popping to hip-hop, featuring an incredible line-up of dancers.
Breaking is a dynamic dance style originating in the 1970s United States, born from the block parties of the Bronx, deeply rooted in hip hop culture. It's characterised by acrobatic moves, stylized footwork, and the key roles played by DJs and MCs, during battles. In the 1990s Breaking gained international fame with competitions worldwide, captivating hip-hop communities and the global audiences.
Speaking during rehearsals Director Liara Barussi said:
“I'm very excited that Jukebox Collective has been invited to perform for audiences in Marseille. We'll be in our element in the city for hip-hop and street art in France. Supporting Team Cymru this year will be an incredible experience for our young people. We look forward to experiencing the city and building new relationships ahead of the Olympics next year, as breaking is featured for the first time."
Eluned Hâf, Head of Wales Arts International leading the Wales in France cultural programme said:
“When Wales play, the supporters take over the streets with song, and a choir in a stadium gets the crowd singing which boosts the team like we saw and heard in Lyon. Supporters joined the choir in singing Calon Lan, just as Gareth Davies scored the first try against Australia. As his grandmother said later, it was the singing that uplifted the fans and the team.”
Andrew Ogun, Changemaker at Arts Council of Wales added:
“It’s very exciting that Jukebox is offering opportunities for young people from Cardiff to work and experience France. Breaking connects with people across the world as both an art and now an Olympic sport and it’s great to connect young Welsh talent with the opportunities ahead whilst also sharing the history of two ports cities whose cultures have been shaped by migration. I’m excited to see what relationships come out of this visit and how relevant breaking and hip-hop in Wales is internationally.”
The Welsh Government has declared 2023 as the "Year of Wales in France" to celebrate and strengthen the bonds between the two nations across all sectors. As France gears up to host the Rugby World Cup in the autumn of 2023 and the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris in 2024, Team Cymru is uniting to raise the profile of Wales both in France and on the global stage.
There will be opportunities for media interviews with Jukebox and Shân Cothi at the Rugby Village at Quai de la Fraternité (on Vieux Port), Marseille where they will be performing:
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Saturday 14 October: |
Sunday 15 October: |
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11h – 11:10h – Jukebox |
11h – 11h10 – Jukebox |
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11:30h – 12:00h – Shan Cothi |
15h – 15:10h – Jukebox |
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13:30h – 13:40h – Jukebox |
Contact:
Tim Powell (in Marseilles) +44 7939571553
Siwan Dafydd +44 7903876416
Eluned Haf +44 7834458501
