At 15 years old, Wajid Beouch is a true Star Wars purist. So much so that, like his favorite heroes, he practices lightsaber for several years, Méru (Oise)with her friend Louna Cantrellealso 15 years old. Saturday, November 23, the two high school students even became Hauts-de-France lightsaber champions in their category, in Grande-Synthe, in the North. And are qualified for the French championships which will take place in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, in Vendée, from June 7 to 9.
Wajid and Louna are trained every week by their instructor, Guillaume Paisnel. Education assistant at the Pierre Mendès-France college in Méru and lightsaber instructor at the Beauvais Fencing Academy, it was he who introduced them to this activity. Here, it was with the Artsouilles & Cie association that it all started. “The president of the association worked at the same college as me, explains Guillaume Paisnel. For one of their shows, “Pirates,” there was a fencing match. They needed actors. It was four years ago, I finally stayed in the boat.”
Only one month to prepare
Every year, between fifteen and twenty of them train once a week in a hangar on rue Paul Vaillant Couturier. “There were fourteen sabers at last year’s show», specifies Guillaume Paisnel. Among them, Wajid Beouch and Louna Cantrelle. “Guillaume gave us a workshop at college, we then continued with the associations”explain the two young people who, at first, did not think of putting on a show. And even less participate in a championship. “I played the bad joke of registering them», smiles Guillaume. “We only had a month to prepareretort Wajid and Louna. We trained for two hours every evening. But it went well!» So much so that the duo won the championship, in the choreographic combat category, where the scenario is prepared in advance, a bit like in the films.
A choreographic fight
“We shot firstsays Louna. When we arrived on stage, I had a panic attack. I repeated the choreography with my fingers. Wajid seemed zen to him. When the music started, we had to quickly get into character. We’ve already done two shows, but it’s the first time we were judged, it was more technical.”
Despite forgetting a block of their choreography, the two young Meruvians obtained the best mark in their category. “We mixed several styles, the jury liked itthey say. We also got good feedback from our gymnastics movements.» Because the lightsaber is not limited to imitating Darth Vader. Under the cover of the French fencing federation, lightsaber has become a real discipline in its own right. With sporting fights, or choreographic fights.
See you at the French championships
In the latter, good preparation is essential, but also pretty costumes. For their championship, Wajid and Louna mixed scenes from films and their latest shows, to produce a four-minute passage. “Wajid had the role of the master, I that of the apprenticesays Louna. He was fallen, I wanted to find him. We had to mix several feelings in our actions: fear, anger, incomprehension…» To ultimately climb to first place.
Next June, they will head to Vendée for the French championships. This time, they will have much more time to prepare. “We’re going to do something better, we’re not going there to watch», warns Louna, determined.
