Belgian of Moroccan origin, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has become known as the choreographer of transience, mixtures, differences. In his performances, Jacques Brel takes on new colours (Anonymous Society, 1999), mediaeval chants clothe images of our times (Foi, 2003), classical reflects contemporary (Rien de Rien, 2000), Boys Bands sing polyphonic songs of the 13th Century (D'avant, 2002). His co-workers hail from all over, as if to displace borders more easily. Perhaps his beginnings as a dancer on television entertainment progammes are what propelled Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui into contemporary dance. – which he studied at the P.A.R.T.S school in Brussels – where he has found a freedom of tone and creativity. Alain Platel asked him to join in the creation of Iets op Bach (1997-1998), a piece which enjoyed tremendous success. In 2000, he joined the artistic circle of Ballets C. de la B. In the Avignon Festival's Vif du Sujet, he danced a solo, IT, in 2002.
Tempus fugit
Green school-room slates cover the floor. Black and grey costumes straight out of the old photographs of our grandparents. Masts standing tall like a forest of signs: family trees, prison bars or time zones... A cosmopolitan troupe of dancers and singers dance fleeting time. As time is not only a universal given, but also a cultural and personal sensation, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has drawn on the indelible memories of moments of eternity within the hearts and minds of his artists. Lullabies, hymns to joy, funeral or military marches, immemorial songs which hark to what is timeless. For time is cyclical and history repeats itself. A period beset by AIDS and the nightmare-situations it has brought with it, recall that of mediaeval Europe and The Plague. The time of war in Iraq, brings us closer to that of The Crusades. An obsession with time, “When I grow up...” every child looks to the future. “In the olden days...”, says the elder nostalgically. But, these acrobats of temporality show that it is possible to master time. So long as you take a break, take a few steps in another direction, just as long as a geographical time difference. Time is not only the master time-keeper of fatality, it's also a partner with whom one can dance. In the company of the Moroccan musical ensemble Weshm, songs from Africa, tunes from Albania, Corsica and Southern Italy, this harmonious event takes the audience on a journey in time, and invites them to savour the present in a cloister turned into a playground.
Distribution
concep, direction, choeography : Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
created, danced and sung by : Ali Ben Lotfi Thabet, Christine Leboutte, Damien Jalet, Isnelle da Silveira, Lisi Estaràs, Marc Wagemans, Nam Jin Kim, Nicolas Vladyslav, Serge-Aimé Coulibaly, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
music : Groupe Weshm, Najib Cherradi (composition, chant), Osama Abderasol (qanun), Floris Dercksen (cello), Coordt Linke (percussion)
artistic collaboration : Damien Jalet
musical supervision of the dancers : Christine Leboutte, Isnelle da Silveira
coach, assistant director : Darryl E. Woods, Christine Smedt
scenography : Wim Van de Cappelle, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
video : DumSpiro
costumes : Isabelle Lhoas
lighting : Carlo Bourguignon, Krispijn Schuyesmans
sound : Caroline Wagner
Production
production : Les Ballets C. de la B.
coproduction : Festival d'Avignon, Tanztheater Wuppertal-Pina Bausch (Wuppertal), Théâtre de la Ville-Paris, Centre d'Arts Vooruit (Gand),
en collaboration : avec STUK Leuven, CNCDC Châteauvallon
avec le soutien : du programme Culture 2000 de l'Union européenne
avec la participation : du ministère de la Communauté flamande, de la province de la Flandre orientale, de la ville de Gand, de la Loterie Nationale
avec l'aide : de Wasserij Schepens