Statut
Présentation
Press
Flawless choreography on the fascinating world of insects The charm of a Michèle Noiret choreography is never in the affirmation or demonstration but rather in the insinuation and ambiguity: she plays several scenes, mixing at least three planes in space (...) An astonishing collective performance that seems sometimes to hang by a thread, threatening to lead us into beautiful labyrinths to better get us onboard. And immerse us in a fine logic of controlled irrationality, the keystone of Michèle Noiret’s world."
"l'œil, l'oreille et le lieu", the fascination for the living, here and now. Far from restricting herself to the cinema-stage metaphor of the insect world (their metamorphoses, their incredible aptitudes, their worrying decline), the piece puts indisputable reality and science fiction into perspective, with special effects that are visually stunning despite being conjured from next to nothing. This next to nothing that can occur thanks to the long development time, the confidence of the partners, the fertility of collaborative work, inventiveness combined in a form that is itself in perpetual mutation. »
The choreographer takes us into the world of insects… before it’s too late. While inviting us to a fascinating show, Michèle Noiret induces us to ask questions to become aware of this life that surrounds us, which we know virtually nothing about. A life heading for extinction, like so much else... (...) The further we advance in the show, the more fascinated we become. Our eyes slide from the screen to the stage, from a documentary wildlife image to a duo inspired by it, when it’s not the insects that seem to imitate the dancers. Cocoon, metamorphoses, combat, coupling... a complete original body language is used. Shot live using two smartphones operated by the dancers, the images on screen are perfectly integrated into the whole, multiplying the points of view, the surprises, the discoveries. On the stage, a canvas seems to come to life on the floor. A duo explodes against the background of electric guitars. The tunnel becomes a cosmic space for a magnificent sequence in weightlessness. Like a permanent loss of bearings. Or the start of regeneration.”
Minuscule but essential. What constitutes a sort of trademark of the choreographer is her capacity for sowing unrest in the mind of the spectator. The combination of live filmed images and recorded images and the presences on stage, one sometimes repeating the other, is studded with deliberate hiatuses, time-lags, “desynchronisations”, which sometimes act as subliminal elements that give rise to reflexion and questioning. (...) Like in a science fiction movie, she addresses ecological and social questions while retaining the desire to captivate, surprise and interrogate the audience."
A few days ahead of a premiere, Michèle Noiret shares her thoughts with Juan d’Oultremont. For me, metamorphosis is a central theme in all my pieces: metamorphosis of space, movement, light… I love it when things change, move, are unexpected. (…) Research accounts for three quarters of the creation. (…) What I like about the work is the collective brainstorming… with 4-5 brains we devise things that one could not have imagined on one’s own.”
> Listen
The filming and projection on a large screen at the back of the stage did its part to equate the actual bodies of the dancers with the depiction of them. This created effective illusions where it was not always easy to know whether one was looking at the performer himself, a video recording of him or, for that matter, a video recording of a reflection of the performer. Together with image-creating sound and lighting, the performance was given a solid whole."
Cast & credits
Conception, choreography Michèle Noiret
Created with and performed by David Drouard, Sara Tan
Video creation Aliocha Van der Avoort
3D images Romain Lalire
Video development Frédéric Nicaise
Original music composition, interactions, sound operator Todor Todoroff
Additional music « Entrance Song » by Black Angels
Light design Yorrick Detroy
Stage design Wim Vermeylen, Michèle Noiret
Costumes Patty Eggerickx
Technical direction and stage manager Frédéric Nicaise
Light operator Yorrick Detroy, Alexandre Chardaire, Loïc Scuttenaire (alternating)
Video operator Yves Pezet (alternating with Aliocha Van der Avoort)
Costumes making Isabelle Airaud, Sarah Duvert
Photography Sergine Laloux
Production and tour manager Morten Walderhaug
Communication and press Alexandra de Laminne
Administration and coordination Cathy Zanté
Duration 55 min
Production Compagnie Michèle Noiret/Tandem asbl
Coproductions Baerum Kulturhus, Sandvika - Oslo (NO), Stormen Konserthus, Bodø (NO), Charleroi danse - Centre chorégraphique de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (BE), Centre des arts - CDA, Enghien-les-Bains (FR)
Support Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Service Général de la Création Artistique - Service de la Danse, Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI), Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral Belge - Casa Kafka Pictures Tax Shelter
Residencies
Centre des arts - CDA, Enghien-les-Bains
Charleroi danse, centre chorégraphique de Wallonie-Bruxelles
Centre des arts - CDA, Enghien-les-Bains
Baerum Kulturhus, Sandvika/Oslo
Stormen Konserthus, Bodø