After earning a PhD in Theatre and Performing Arts from the Université de Franche-Comté, my academic path has been devoted to a multidisciplinary anthropological approach that studies humanity in all its diversity. My work focuses particularly, though not exclusively, on the artistic perspectives found in the traditions of ancient societies. My current research centres on similar ritual practices across North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Japan, and on the convergence toward a possible shared source of "knowledge".
Experience
06/2022
06/2024
Postdoctoral researcher
Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan
Postdoctoral researcher in Arts and Anthropology at the Research Institute for Japanese Traditional Music (RIJTM). My work focused on studying and understanding the performative and artistic forms of ancient Japanese society that practised kagura ritual in its "authentic" form.
10/2019
09/2021
Education assistant
Lycée de Thère, Saint-Lô, France
Education assistant in charge of educational, sports and socio-cultural activities, the inclusion of students with disabilities, and various administrative tasks related to school life.
09/2013
09/2014
Education assistant
Collège César Franck, Paris 2, France
In charge of a film club and the production of educational videos.
01/2013
01/2014
Stage director
Association Légion d'honneur, Saint-Denis, France
Director of the play "Cri", funded by the Association Légion d'Honneur and performed as part of a humanitarian project, Saint-Denis, France.
10/2009
11/2010
Actor
Journées Théâtrales de Carthage (JTC), Tunis, Tunisia
Actor in the play "WAW", directed by Fathi AKKARI and performed during the Journées Théâtrales de Carthage (JTC) in Tunis, Tunisia.
09/2009
08/2010
Stage director
Institut Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (ISAD), Tunis, Tunisia
Director and actor in the play "Trou", performed as part of the Journées Théâtrales at the Institut Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (ISAD) of Tunis, Tunisia.
11/2009
12/2009
Trainee
Néapolis International Theatre Festival, Nabeul, Tunisia
Training in "The Neutral Mask" during the Néapolis International Theatre Festival, Nabeul, Tunisia.
11/2008
12/2008
Trainee
Néapolis International Theatre Festival, Nabeul, Tunisia
Training in "Great Styles: Molière" during the Néapolis International Theatre Festival held in Nabeul, Tunisia.
05/2007
10/2008
Actor
"Nouveau Film" production company, Tunis, Tunisia
Actor in the historical film "TRENTE" by Fadhel JAZIRI, shot in Tunis, Tunisia.
07/2007
07/2007
Trainee
Festival d'Avignon, Avignon, France
Training in "Contemporary Pantomime" as part of an International Artistic Cooperation programme during the Avignon Festival, France.
Qualifications
11/2020
PhD
PhD in Theatre and Performing Arts, Université de Franche-Comté, ELLIADD Research Unit, LECLA Doctoral School, Besançon, France.
09/2015
Master's degree
Master's degree in Performing Arts – Theatre Studies, Université Paris 8, Saint-Denis, France.
06/2010
Bachelor's degree (Maîtrise)
Bachelor's degree (Maîtrise) in Theatre Studies, specialising in Directing and Actor Training, Institut Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (ISAD), Tunis, Tunisia.
06/2006
Baccalauréat
Baccalauréat in Economics and Management, Lycée Pilote des Arts, Tunis, Tunisia.
References
FUJITA Takanori
Kyoto City University of Arts
Email: tfujita@kcua.ac.jp
Phone: +81 90-6053-2618
FREIXE Guy
Université de Franche-Comté
Email: guy.freixe@gmail.com
Phone: +33 6 03 46 23 08
SAITO Kei
Kyoto City University of Arts
Email: ke-saito@kcua.ac.jp
Phone: +81 90-9163-1930
List of achievements
Scientific events organised
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10/2023 – Workshop on Masked Performance and mask-making, held from 23 to 26 October 2023 at Kyoto City University of Arts (Japan). A four-day training led by professors Guy FREIXE and Bruno BOTELLA, aimed at preparing the body for masked performance and analysing the laws of movement through the discovery of the neutral mask, accompanied by a mask-making workshop using traditional Japanese techniques.
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03/2023 – Between Bori and Kagura, an ethnomusicological reflection and stage approach, held at Kyoto City University of Arts (Japan). A lecture-concert exploring a multidisciplinary approach between bori (a traditional Hausa cult in sub-Saharan Africa) and kagura (a traditional Japanese cult).
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02/2019 – Stambali in Tunisia: Ritual Trance or Theatrical Performance?, a study day held at the Université de Besançon, exploring artistic reflections on the "spectacular" in Maghrebi ritual practices.
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11/2017 – Routes and Roots, a seminar at the University of Tsukuba (Japan) on "reflections on musical influence and the process of rewriting identity".
Doctoral thesis & dissertations
Doctoral thesis
➤
2020 – The spectacular forms of religious cults in the Maghreb: the case of stambali in Tunisia, or how a ritual practice becomes a theatrical tradition, thesis written at the Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
Master's dissertation
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2015 – The actor, his mask and his text, Master's dissertation in Performing Arts, specialising in Theatre Studies, Université Paris 8.
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2010 – The Trou project, Bachelor's dissertation (Maîtrise) in Theatre Studies, specialising in Directing, ISAD Tunis.
List of publications
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2020 – Aymen Chaabane, "Ritual and the theatrical stakes of the body in the Maghreb: between divinity and sexuality", Éditions Les Chantiers de la Création No. 12, Aix-en-Provence, April 2020.
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2024 – Aymen Chaabane, "Between Bori and Kagura: Dialectic of Reconciliation – the theatrical and performance aspects in traditional societies in sub-Saharan Africa and Japan", forthcoming publication, Japan Review.
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2024 – Aymen Chaabane, The Spectacular Forms of Religious Cults in the Maghreb: the Case of Stambali in Tunisia, or How to Transform a Ritual Practice into a Theatrical Tradition, forthcoming book publication (December 2024, Deuxième Époque).
