PERIOD PIECE

Managing to go back to a forgotten sense of normalcy in our chaotic world while dreaming of a new and better one is what Jan Martens’ work is all about. His piece is a combination of “old-school” dancing styles and innovative choreography.

The Belgian choreographer selected Górecki’s 3 Dances, a 1973 piece revolving around strong contrasts, and invited Lyon Opera dancer Kristina Bentz to take up as much space on stage as a whole herd of dancers. With its many influences – Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, minimalism, rhythms akin to that of Polish folk music – Górecki’s music allows for extravagant dancing in which pulsating energy radiates through slow, controlled movements. In terms of execution, the music requires a large number of dancers, which means that the solo interpreter is tasked with the impossible mission of raising above the massive roar produced by the orchestra. In that way, their dancing solo symbolises the struggle of human beings as we try to understand and navigate a world bigger than us. As a true celebration of the human body and mind’s abilities, the piece is both serious and absurd, exuberant and minimalistic, and true to life, with its tendency to go on no matter what.  

The solo performer of Period Piece plays with time, with the past and unstable present, whirling towards a better future with a generous drive replete with rage and humour.