Starting April 28, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal will present Luna, a thematic evening devoted to this star and its influence on the Earth and on our evolution. As part of this program, the passionate choreographer Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya, the company’s principal dancer, inspired by the strength, beauty and even the hope aroused by this star of the night, will present the show From Sun to Moon.
“The moon connects me to spirituality. It inspires a lot of reflection and introspection in me,” explains Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya. For her, the moon also raises existential questions about our place in the universe.
It is from his various thoughts that the artist has built his piece From Sun to Moon, which has its origins in the discovery, more than 10 years ago, of the music of Moonlight Benjamin. “Her voice is full of soul, of power, her music is fantastic and her lyrics are full of stories,” says the 38-year-old dancer. When she heard it for the first time, in 2008, she quickly decided to use it to dance. ” At a workshop, I took two of his songs, to experiment. I really liked the result. So much that I said to myself that, if one day I had the opportunity to do a great play, I would use his music,” she recalls. And that opportunity finally presented itself.
Afro-Caribbean rhythms, rock, jazz, bolero and African drums are part of the repertoire of the singer of Haitian origin, who has been living in France for several years now. A mix of sounds that immediately marked the first dancer of Les Grands Ballets, born in Spain to African and Spanish parents, who immigrated first to France, then to Canada. ” It goes straight to my heart. I don’t think people can remain indifferent to this music. The themes she sings are sensitive and speak to many people,” she continues.
In the dance, but also in the music, several ethnic minorities are little, if at all, represented. So, I find it important to highlight the art of Moonlight Benjamin.
From the beginning of the creation, and until now, the two artists have met, virtually, to talk about the piece and its progress. A true collaboration was born. “In the dance, but also in the music, several ethnic minorities are little, if at all, represented. So, I find it important to highlight the art of Moonlight Benjamin, “explains Mme Garcia-Ribala Montoya.
Choreographic fusion
Although this is not his first choreographic piece, From Sun to Moon is his first long creation for a large number of dancers. Indeed, lasting about forty minutes and with more than 20 dancers, this creation brought its share of challenges. ” I said to myself : “Go big or go home.“I wanted to make the most of it and take risks, confides the choreographer. It’s certainly more complicated to juggle the availability of the dancers, the injuries, the problems of each one, but it’s really gratifying to do a strong piece like that. I am honored to be able to do this. »
Initially planned to be presented on stage in 2020, From Sun to Moon had to wait more than two years to see the light of day with the general public because of the pandemic. A dozen dancers have since left the company and new performers have been welcomed. This required a significant adaptation of the designer. “You have to take the time to teach choreography to young dancers and, at the same time, we are all working on several projects at the same time. And this is even more true since the reopening of performance halls. So it’s not always easy,” she says.
“I wanted to create movement that matches the characteristics of the dancers. I had my ideas, but I also remained flexible so that it worked,” she says. Diversity was thus a major part of his choreographic choices. Indeed, she was as much inspired by contemporary dance as by martial arts, acrobatics, ballet or even African dances.
The dancers are divided into two groups and they each embody different combined styles and a certain reality. ” There is one [groupe] which represents the physical side of the human. There, I use neoclassical vocabulary, beautiful lines, partnership inspired by ballet, but with more fluid, more “grounded” movements, mixed with African rhythms, she explains. The second group represents a more spiritual, abstract, energetic aspect. There I put a lot of contemporary moves, floor, acrobatics and a larger base of African moves. »
In addition to the music and the mix of styles, which are important, Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya also wanted to add projections to her piece. These, designed by Caribbean native Nalo Soyini Bruce, are inspired by nature, fire, water… and create imaginary worlds. A very important addition for the choreographer. “Video allows a more immersive experience for people, it pushes them to use their imagination, then it makes a link between the fantastic and the real,” she explains.
Vanesa Garcia-Ribala Montoya hopes that the messages conveyed by Moonlight Benjamin’s songs, choreographic creation and projections will have a “universal character”. According to the two creators, these songs are more rooted in current reality. “Yes, the singer talks about her experience in Haiti, but it affects a lot of people elsewhere too. Right now, with Ukraine, we see all the victims forced to flee. We talk a lot about war, political conflicts. It goes to my heart, it’s difficult, she concludes. I hope the piece will bring comfort. Particularly here in Montreal, Canada, where there are many immigrants and refugees. I don’t want them to feel isolated, forgotten. I hope to bring a message of humanity and hope. »
This evening includes three other choreographic pieces: Beguile by Lesley Telford Fukuoka by Marcos Morau, with Lorena Nogal and Marina Rodriguez, and Sonataby Luna by Edgar Zendejas.