Travel without moving
Why not escape through movement? Notice to lovers of Spain and those curious about flamenco: Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca are back in Montreal for a brand new creation, Searching for Goya, inspired by the painter. This winter, Danse Danse also offers us a multitude of foreign choreographic productions, for example from the German companies Staatstheater Mainz and Gauthier Dance. The first invites us to explore desire and love in a visceral and crazy work, Tanzmainswinner of the prestigious German Der Faust prize, and the second, Kamuyotto madly celebrate dance through the signature movement Gaga, by the Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin. Rising star in Europe, the Italian choreographer Sofia Nappi will present his piece Komoco, influenced by Gaga technique as well as the work of Hofesh Schehter. Finally, the Colombian choreographer Rafael Palacios will reveal his creation to the Montreal public Sankofa Danzafrowhich mixes African rhythms, percussion, songs and dance.
Encourage local artists
Attending shows also means encouraging local artists. At the Agora de la danse, discover the alchemy between two choreographers, Catherine Gaudet And Louise Bedardand two directors, Jérémie Niel and Félix-Antoine Boutin, in the show Face to face. Together, they explore the porosity of their discipline. The result having been presented in front of a very small audience shortly after the start of the pandemic, the four artists finally unveil the final, larger version. For his part, the choreographer Daniel Léveillé returns, 23 years later, (re)present his play Love, acid and nuts. Relation to the skin, the body and touch, this creation, which has traveled the world, will be on display for only three evenings. In a completely different universe, Cutting Through the Noisefrom the choreographer Alexandre Morinquestions the omnipresence of screens in our world, and Helen Simardwith his piece In Morpheus armsoffers a show for young audiences where dreams and imagination are in the spotlight.
Go look somewhere else
Several local artists like to cross borders, take an interest in elsewhere or even draw on their origins. This is particularly the case of Nasim Lootij and of Kiasa Nazeranboth from Iran, with their piece Inconsistency. In this production, they are interested in the human spirit, discourses and political conflicts. Through dance, they evoke the nightmare they are experiencing in their country of origin. Choreographer of Syrian origin, Hoor Malas invites us into an immersive solo, If My Body Had a Name. She evokes the social control exercised in her region of origin, its echo today here, and raises questions about the influence of history and the living environment on the way the body moves. For those curious about new things, Tangente will once again offer its LABdiff evening this season, a laboratory where three artists, Amara Barner, Antonin Desmarais-Godin And Taminator, will present the results of their experiments. Finally, in a completely different register, Julie Artacho offers interdisciplinary creation that combines theater, music, dance and activism, Avalanches. Frontal, this piece talks about rape culture, violence, aggression, possession and love.
Affirm your identity
The stage is also a place to take responsibility, where discussions can flourish. The choreographer Georges-Nicolas Tremblay offers for example a queer musical dance where he rethinks normality and makes “fantastic degendered beings” coexist, Faithless Fairies. An invitation to open your horizons. Choreographer Julia B. Laperrière, for her part, unveils her solo Falla. To address the absence of the phallus and the societal questions linked to this reality of the feminine gender, she uses a strap-on dildo as a tool to observe its effects on the way she moves, but also the symbolic significance of this object. Before the show, the FLINTA Cabaret (women, lesbians, intersex, trans and agender) will offer a series of performances also inspired by the strap-on. Waawaate Fobisteran Anishinaabe artist from the Grassy Narrows First Nation, will evoke a non-binary two-spirit being from Anishinaabe cosmology and knowledge in Omaagomaan. All while mixing sound, movement, dance and storytelling.
Circus side
After dancing, it’s time for the circus with, this winter, several captivating offerings. Inspired by the emblematic works of Riopelle, the company Les 7 Fingers will unveil Life-size Riopelle, an immersive show that combines 360-degree video projection technologies, infrared motion capture and sound spatialization. Original works by the artist will also be on display. LED wall, cameras and selfie sticks will be part of the show The Mirror, from the company Gravity & Other Myths. The Australian troupe questions the concept of entertainment and authenticity behind the screens. The company of Robert LepageEx Machina, will present SLAM!, in collaboration with FLIP Fabrique. Embodying a multitude of characters, the acrobats will fight in a wrestling match between theater beasts and circus beasts. Reinvention of the genre, wrestling then rubs shoulders with the 6th art to ensure a crazy and crazy evening!