14-10-2013, Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam
Music: Ori Lichtik
Costume design: Maayan Goldman
Lightning design: Avi Yona (Bambi) Bueno
Sharon Eyal, the very appreciated and well-known Israeli choreographer,
was born in Jerusalem and studied at the highschool of "Jerusalem Academy of Dance and
Music". As a 17 years old she already got accepted to Bat-Sheva Dance Company.
Eyal sterted to create pieces for the company in 2000, and became the "house
choreographer" of the company (2005-2011). In 2012 she left Bat-Sheva and
established "L-E-V" ("Heart" in Hebrew) dance group with Gai
Behar.
"House" is a piece for 8 dancers and Sharon herself. In this
work Eyal creates "a new world", a characteristic idea in most of her
works, in various ways. She uses a lot in blurring of the self identity, and
the gender definitions. She treats the dancers as if they were creatures, some
kind of material she can use in her crafting. It is visible both in the
choreography itself and the appearance of the dancers.
Her language, in general and also in this particular piece, is very specific
and recognizable because of the contradictions it has in it. On one hand, it is
very minimalistic and organic, but on the other hand we can recognize Eyal's
love to technique and the ability to control the body. She uses both gestures
and internal initiation of movements, but also shapes and known forms. Because
of this mix, sometimes it feels that the movement itself is abstract, that it
just happened, the body took over, without any planning in advanced. But of
course when the materials are being placed together they create a context.
There are no explanations in "House", and it seems like Eyal
chose to make her audience active and to give the opportunity for the viewers to
understand the piece their own way. Sometimes it feels like the there is no
content connection between the scenes in the performance, but step by step,
Sharon sews everything together into a whole art piece.
In my eyes, "House" deals with the question about the place of
one person in a society. How we, as human beings, behave and react in a given
social situation. Who takes which roll? Are there any set rolls or is it only us
who create them every time again and again?
Her incredible dancers are total for her and for the piece, which give
the impression that this is the reason for them to live, in that moment. Most
of the time it is not about an extravaganza choreography, but it is the
dancer's execution and commitment that make it such a virtuosity and thrilling
work.
Sharon's works are worth-seeing production wise as well. She works with
her partner to life, Gai Behar, and together they collaborate with Ori lichtik and
Maayan Goldman. They are all involved in the creation process itself, which
makes each performance unique and very rich artistically. It is not about a
normal "dance piece" in which only the movements, the "dance",
are in the center, but the whole experience the audience is being led into.
"House" is a one hour emotional journey for the audience, which
contains all kinds of thoughts and images. Eyal's ability to balance between
delicate and intimate moments with provocative ones, will have an immensely effect on the audience, every viewer will interpret "House" differently. ENJOY!
No comments:
Post a Comment