Undertainment | Lisa
William Forsythe | Ioannis Mandafounis
Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company
In 2025, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Biennale de la Danse de Lyon and the Romaeuropa Festival for the presentation of Undertainment by William Forsythe and Lisa by Ioannis Mandafounis interpreted by the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company.
Undertainment
William Forsythe is regarded as one of the most important choreographers of the late 20th century. His innovative approach to the tradition of ballet has opened up directions for dance that would otherwise be difficult to imagine. From 1984 to 2004, Forsythe directed the Ballett Frankfurt and from 2005 to 2015 The Forsythe Company, which was later renamed Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company. Forsythe is now returning to the place of this legacy of many years and is developing a new work with the company for the first time. Starting from a toolbox of improvisational construction, he creates a structural order which, instead of signifying something else, offers an aesthetic pleasure in itself. Like in a kaleidoscope, patterns emerge that are always unpredictable and surprising yet within a clear framework. The dancers explore the movement system that they themselves form to its limits. The audience is invited to follow this exploration and experience the work as a living, breathing system.
Lisa
Live-choreography, the methodology of Ioannis Mandafounis, allows for a choreography to be created on the spot. In Lisa this includes the dancers individually choosing when to enter and exit the stage. From this simple arrangement a lot of different situations can arise. The sudden appearing and disappearing creates surprising changes, a one-on-one encounter between two dancers might abruptly turn into a group scene. Someone is suddenly left alone and an emotional solo starts.
The piece combines these dramaturgical principles with poems by the lyricist Osip Mandelshtam from the Soviet Union and music by Gabriel Fauré. Historic costumes from the thirties provide a visual context to the texts which will be heard in the Russian original as well as in English and German translations. In this way shorter and longer narrative threads emerge, which the audience can choose to follow – or not.
Is this a crime scene? Or is it just business as usual? Is it better to be polite and say hello or to hide in the bushes as quickly as possible? Keeping both feet on the ground is of little use, if reality itself is shaking.
Ioannis Mandafounis
In 2025, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Biennale de la Danse de Lyon and the Romaeuropa Festival for the presentation of Lisa by Ioannis Mandafounis interpreted by the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company.
William Forsythe
In 2025, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company for the creation of Undertainment by William Forsythe.
About the partner
Romaeuropa Festival
In 2025, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Romaeuropa Festival for the presentation of 6 shows.
Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company
In 2025, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company for the creation of Join by Ioannis Mandafounis as well as the production of Undertainment by William Forsythe and Lisa by Ioannis Mandafounis.
Biennale de la danse de Lyon
In 2025, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the presentation of nine show of the 21st edition of the Biennale de la danse de Lyon.
