Duel

Les Gens du Quai Company, Франция
Boris Hristov Cultural Centre, 7 p.m.

DUEL takes us on a journey into the iconic representations of duels in literature, cinema and beyond together, with five artists, dancers and performers chosen to be our champions. The aim is to question the limits of body in dance within the duel and explore the role of the duel to solve conflicts. Spectators are transported into the duel as they watch the “battle” being played out in front of their eyes. We identify with the performers as they skilfully draw us into their ruse. With folly and also seriousness, five dancers hatch their plans in a range of varied situations, by turns trivial, hilarious, and deeply profound. Even within the humour and emotion of the dance, strict attention is paid to the precision of the movements, pushing the limits of creativity and innovation.

Contemporary dance plays with fiction!
DUEL is an evocation of single combats through the ages, handled of course with humour and mockery. Don Quixote is not far away, neither is the Grand Guignol, and we have a fit of the giggles during a show that shields us from the reality behind this comical farce: the fact that, in the old days, a duel ended with a killing. Anne Lopez was actually inspired by duels in cinema and literature: she talks about the reasons that push people into this mortal encounter, helped by the total commitment of the dancer/fighters in their own role, affecting us quite particularly through their presence and acting prowess. Don’t you think it would be a pity to deny us our pleasure?

Jean-Marie Gourreau in critiphotodanse – 24/03/2013
Choreographer Anne Lopez is based in Montpellier. In 1998, she set up the Les gens du quai dance company with Sophie Gérard and François Lopez. Within it, she has created many choreographed shows, including Meeting (1998), L’invité (1999), Ecoute Oenone (1999), Révoltes (2000), De l’autre (2001), Litanies (2002), De l’avant invariablement (2004), Face à vous (2005), Idiots Mais Rusés (2007), Miss Univers (2007), La Menace (2008), Duel (2009), and Feu à Volonté (2011). In June 2004, she received the SACD New Choreographic Talent Award for the play De l’avant invariablement (dance/web/Europe project).