YANNICK KAMANZI NDOLI, commonly known by his stage name “The Black Intore”, is one of the many creative artists that are budding in the art industry not only in Rwanda but also beyond. He is a man of many hats; he is a dancer, a percussionist, content creator, among other talents. He believes that art is a podium to stir social change, which is why his work mostly raises awareness and starts conversations around essential issues in society. Although he started dancing at the age of four, Ndoli was introduced professionally to dance in 2016 by AMIZERO, a contemporary dance company steered by Wesley Ruzibiza. ‘The Black Intore’ has worked as a project coordinator and assistant director of the internationally renowned Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company. Among his current projects include; “The Black Intore”, a triple treat production under development that will be fully developed in an artistic residence in Paris, as part of the cultural program AFRICA 2020. “This project, to look forward to, is a story of resilience and tackles the mental health of people we look up to as heroes and the emotion of managing both the life where we need to constantly deliver, but also the private life where we have to deal with personal battles,” he shared. In this story, Kamanzi uses the image and dance of the Intore warriors as he emphasizes that culturally; they are looked at as perfect and courageous to explore the secret places and deal with their personal struggles. He also carried on that to the general public, it is an attempt to give value to the Rwandan culture that is normally looked up as boring and old and to use this project to instruct and have people enjoy it in the present. The choreographer has no doubt that his art consents him to best explicit human emotions, in their intricacy and to construct innate networks with a broader audience. The creative artist creates and performs pieces with local artists of dissimilar genres and also assigned as a solo artist with creations. He has locally worked as a choreographer with artistes such as, Yvan Buravan, Andy Bumuntu, Mike Kayihura, Seyn Muziki, Diana Teta, Mani Martin, Rene Patrick and Gayelle. The ingenious dancer has also choreographed and directed in project such like; Quest to the cure 2016, 2017 and 2018 (with Shekinah Drama Team from Restoration Church), Yvan Buravan’s Album Launch “The love lab.” He also took part in “Kwita Izina” 2019, under Mashirika, Transform Africa 2019 under Mashirika And Christmas Cantata 2018 and 2019 at Christian Life Assembly- CLA Nyarutarama. ‘The Black Intore’ has also worked with companies such as Mashirika Performing arts and Media Company, Ishyo Arts Center, Iyugi, Amizero Dance Company, Fideli ltd (a creative communication company) Legit Group (a content creation and production company), Gameville Entertainment (a social connection and creative experience company whose sole purpose is to make fun easy). When asked to shade a clear picture about his experience as a choreographer, he noted that what he enjoys most about the journey of choreography is that it is more than just aligning movements one copies or learns, but it is a whole craft one must learn from other choreographers and oneself. He has participated in the conceptions of events and projects like; Quest to the cure 2016- 2018 at Restoration Church, “Umuganura” food Festival in 2018 at Kigali car-free zone and Generation 25 in 2019 with Mashirika Performing arts and Media Company. “I have been hosted in productions such as Radio Live in big theaters in France (such as Theatre National de Bretagne, Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris). I also performed in places such as Halles de Schaerbeek in Brussels, Belgium; and Stellenbosch Theater in Cape Town, South Africa, he said.
