Autobiography

“The body is a living archive.”
Light rays sweep through the space of a stage engulfed in mist. A mechanical metallic structure rises and falls. It breaks the dance down into segments. Sections follow each other to the rhythm of electronic pulses, nervous, fragile, sharp, delicate. 23 fragments, chosen at random by an algorithm every night, reproduce the 23 pairs of chromosomes that make up the human genome. Ten dancers write a life in movement, in its infinite variations of sensations and reflections, through memories plucked from the life of the choreographer. What trace does movement leave in our DNA? This is the question Wayne McGregor tries to answer, using his own body as an object of study. He explores the secrets of genetics, looking for the memory of the body inscribed in the sequencing of his genome. Movement, written in his very cells, becomes memory, a choreographic imprint of his own essence. All leading to an abstract meditation of rare intensity, a unique experience made new with each performance, a reflection of life itself.

A British dancer and choreographer born in Stockport in 1970, Wayne McGregor studied dance at the University of Leeds and at the Limón School in New York, before founding Company Wayne McGregor in 1992. He has been choreographer-in-residence at the Royal Ballet in London since 2006. A pioneer for over 25 years, his style combines speed, fluidity, and structure. He is internationally renowned and has won many awards for his creations combining dance, visual arts, technology, and science. He has worked as a director and choreographer for the opera, theatre, and cinema, and has directed music videos and created artistic installations.

With Joshua Barwick, Rebecca Bassett-Graham, Camille Bracher, Jordan James Bridge, Izzac Carroll, Maria Daniela González, Chien-Shun Liao, Jacob O'Connell, Daniela Neugebauer, Po-Lin Tung

Conception Wayne McGregor
Choreography Wayne McGregor in collaboration with the dancers of the company
Music Jlin
Stage design, projection Ben Cullen Williams
Lights Lucy Carter
Costumes Aitor Throup
Dramaturgy Uzma Hameed
Algorythm Nick Rothwell

Production Studio Wayne McGregor
Co-production Sadler's Wells Theatre (Londres), Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Edinburgh International Festival, Festspielhaus St Pölten (Autriche) , Carolina Performing Arts at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (États-Unis) , Movimentos Festwochen der Autostadt (Wolfsburg)
With the support West Kowloon Cultural District (Hong Kong) , Festival Diaghilev. P.S (Saint-Pétersbourg) , Centro Cultural Vila Flor (Guimarães) , pour la musique : Seattle Theatre Group (États-Unis), Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Londres).
Musique in collaboration with Unsound