When movements get political

The “Shift” Section of Singapore’s Da:ns Festival has become my favourite part of this annual showcase at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, not least because it opens up perspectives on dance and proves that in many other corners of the world, experiments are ongoing and possibilities are almost limitless. It’s also, for me at least, much more pleasurable watching dance performances in an intimate 250-seat playhouse than a gigantic 2,000-seat theatre.

The old notion that music in dance replaces spoken words in theatre was successfully turned around at this year’s “Shift” in “It’s going to get worse and worse and worse, my friend” by Voetvolk, a Belgian dance-performance group founded by dancer-choreographer Lisbeth Gruwez and composer-musician Maarten Van Cauwenberghe.

In her research for the work, Gruwez studied video recordings of public speeches by various politicians and dictators. She then created a unique choreographed set of moves that retained their power but didn’t imitate. Her research at the end focused on a speech by the ultraconservative American televangelist Jimmy Swaggert from which Van Cauwenberghe freely manipulated and created a soundscape for the performance.

The two have worked together on the project from the start and are performing together at every show. Although he was not onstage but in a control booth, Van Cauwenberghe’s live manipulation of sound meant that they were always connected and responding to each other. At times, her movements followed his sound; at other times, it was the opposite – and while they were supporting each other, it occasionally looked and sounded as if they were fighting.

The result was astounding as it commendably re-connected art to everyday life. The combination of Gruwez’s arresting movements and Van Cauwenberghe’s gripping sound not only thoroughly captivated us throughout the 50-minute performance but also frequently put us in moments of trance the way those public speakers do. The collaboration brought to mind that behind most great public speeches are unknown writers, with the speakers adding diction, interpretation as well as gestures though it must be said that certain politicians fail miserably to eloquently deliver well-written speeches.

 At the same time, the performance reminded us that non-verbal communication can be as powerful as spoken words with Gruwez’s controlling eye contact never quite letting us go.

The design was minimal and yet highly praiseworthy. In the rectangular-framed pool of lights, Gruwez wore slim-fit white T-shirt, grey pants, black leather shoes and sported coiffed hairstyle that were in complete contrast to her red-painting lips. 

At the post-show Q&A the audience realised that Gruwez in person was far different from – and much more pleasant than – the physical orator who had just transfixed us. 

Having been staged in more than 30 countries including a private performance for the King and Queen of Belgium who were visiting a festival in Italy, “It’s going to get worse and worse and worse, my friend” will be at the World Series Festival in Taipei this weekend. Next month, they will perform in Santiago, Chile, Leuven and Diest, Belgium and Geneva, Switzerland. Keep track of them at www.Voetvolk.be.