Contemporary cirque and beyond

COMPAGNIE XY’S “Il n’est pas encore minuit” (“Not yet midnight”) and Compagnie Yoann Bourgeois’ “Celui qui tombe” (“One who falls”) both had their world premieres last week at the ongoing 16th Biennale de la danse in Lyon. Both started at 9pm and despite my jet lag held my attention throughout the 70-minute performances. More than drawing gasps of amazement and standing ovations, they also gave me, and I’m sure the other members of the full-house audience, good dreams too.

What’s special about “Il n’est pas encore minuit” is that its 22 highly skillful performers form a tightly knit ensemble with such trust in each other that they can perform daredevil stunts with no strings or safety nets. Dressed in plain clothes, they portray dramatic characters in the show, which has a loose festive thread and is filled with humour, making it much more than just a showcase of special acrobatic skills. 

What makes “Celui qui tombe” extraordinary is the physical, visual and spiritual relationship between the large plank which, attached to more mechanisms, can be lowered, raised, tilted and spun at various angles and speeds, and the six performers who try their best to stand straight and safely on it. It’s one large piece of set but that’s all director and scenographer Yoann Bourgeois needs to fill the large stage and to draw the audience’s full attention.

Technically speaking, at times, it reminded me of the so-called Viking ride at our amusement parks – that is to say, it looks like a kid’s swing until you’re on it and it starts to swing and you then realise it’s absolutely not. 

Dramaturgically, with the performers not only showing their balance, climbing and dance skills, they become characters and we see relationships and stories develop in their small world onstage which clearly reflect ours. 

Going beyond the traditional boundary of cirque and into contemporary dance, both productions, which are co-commissioned by the biennale, are grand in scale and staged in large venues, namely the Celestins, Theatre de Lyon and Opera de Lyon. Compagnie XY’s has a large number of cast members but only some wooden boards as set props while Compagnie Yoann Bourgeois has a large set requiring extra set-up time. Both were selected as part of ONDA’s (Office national de diffusion artistique) “Focus Danse”, for foreign producers and presenters to enjoy and to select, I’m sure they will soon be seen and enjoyed outside France. 

After Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music hosted “Cirque Eclipse” last weekend. perhaps organisers should seriously consider continuing along the cirque track to further develop the audience. The French-Thai festival La Fete has presented cirque productions in the past, but they were of much smaller scale. And after the success of Ballet Preljocaj’s “Snow White” last Wednesday, it looks like the French Embassy and International Cultural Promotions should have a meeting soon. 

The writer’s trip is supported by the French Embassy, ONDA and the Biennale’s press office. Special thanks to Benoit Etienne, Rachel Spengler and Laura Lamboglia.

 

FLY NOW

The 16th Biennale de la danse continues until tomorrow. With quick connections through Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Vienna or Zurich, it’s possible to get from Bangkok to Lyon in less than 13 hours. 

For more details, check out www.BiennaleDeLaDanse.com.