Dance and percussion evening
Abstract
“Dance and percussion evening” consists of two “duets” featuring a dancer and a musician. The first part, “Drum&Dance;”, is performed by Thomas Hauert and drummer Michel Debrulle, the second, “Prepared piano”, by dancer Mat Voorter, who has worked with ZOO from the outset, and pianist Daan Vandewalle. As well as having parallel configurations, the two pieces are linked in that they both explore the world of percussion in sound and movement. The programme actually came about as the result of a suggestion from the Concertgebouw in Bruges for its “Beat It!” percussion festival.
Presentation
“Drum&Dance;”, an initiative of the Belgian musician Michel Debrulle, was created in 2004. He suggested to Thomas Hauert that they create a short improvised form together for the reopening of the Beursschouwburg in Brussels. Going beyond the boundaries of styles, the two artists improvise freely, drawing inspiration from tradition, folklore, jazz and contemporary. Together they are attempting to rediscover this initial tension, this frenetic body consisting of two beings sharing an instantaneous process of creation. On drums and Binche bass drum, Michel Debrulle improvises by developing and transforming a succession of musical motifs, while Thomas Hauert responds intuitively, impulsively even, letting his body react to the rhythms of the music. The resulting dance, with its exuberant energy, is informed by the distinctive characteristics of a percussion music endlessly repeating and transforming its rhythmical loops. The two men also play on the relationship of closeness and distance between them and with the audience: while the piece has on occasion been performed in theatres, it was initially created for a non-theatrical, informal space where it is the audience that defines the fluid boundaries of the stage space: without the distance of a “fourth wall”, the spectator is invited to experience the music and dance in a direct and instinctive way. Since premiering at the Beursschouwburg, “Drum&Dance;” has been performed in very different spaces, from the promenade of the royal gallery in Ostend to a square in Bologna, the Santarcangelo festival and Florence’s Virgilio Sieni theatre.
Mirroring this existing piece, Thomas Hauert is going to create a new short piece for and with the dancer Mat Voorter, set to a selection of John Cage’s “Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano” performed by Daan Vandewalle. A prepared piano is a piano whose sounds are altered by objects of different material being placed between the strings. The American composer John Cage is credited with its invention, or at least with popularising it. For him, it really was about percussion: he wrote that with a prepared piano you “place in the hands of a single pianist the equivalent of an entire percussion orchestra”. Among Cage’s pieces for prepared piano, the “Sonatas and Interludes”, composed between 1946 and 1948, are generally considered an absolute masterpiece and hugely influential on a number of composers. The cycle consists of sixteen sonatas (13 in binary rhythm and the final 3 in ternary rhythm) as well as 4 more liberally structured interludes. 45 notes are prepared using screws, nuts and bolts, as well as pieces of rubber (including an eraser) and bits of plastic. With these “Sonatas and Interludes”, which reflect the influence of Eastern thinking on Cage, particularly the works of the philosopher of Indian art Ananda Coomaraswamy, the composer lifts his technique of rhythmical proportions to a new level of complexity.
In Bruges, the “Sonatas and Interludes” for Thomas Hauert’s new piece will be performed by the pianist Daan Vandewalle, an internationally renowned specialist of American contemporary music. To accompany him, the choreographer has called on Mat Voorter, a dancer with a huge wealth of experience in improvisation and with extraordinary musicality. While Hauert will be directing the piece, notably by exploring with Voorter the idea of a “prepared body” and “prepared space”, it will definitely be all about improvisation, calling largely on the dancer’s experience and creativity.
Credits
“Drum&Dance;” -
Concept and direction: Michel Debrulle et Thomas Hauert /
Dance created and presented by: Thomas Hauert /
Music: Michel Debrulle /
Light design: Jan Van Gijsel /
Production: ZOO /
With the support of: Flemish Government, Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council, Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie //
‘Prepared piano” -
Concept and direction: Thomas Hauert /
Dance created and presented by: Mat Voorter /
Music: John Cage, “Sonates and Interludes for prepared piano”, 1946-48 /
Piano: Daan Vandewalle /
Light design: Jan Van Gijsel /
Production: ZOO /
Coproduction: Concertgebouw, Bruges //
ZOO is in residency at Kaaitheater, Brussels, and Charleroi/Danses, Centre chorégraphique de la Communauté française de Belgique /
ZOO’s projects and activities are supported by Flemish Government, Ministère de la Communauté française de Belgique - Service de la Danse, Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council, Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre/Danse
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