Monique
Monique finds its inspiration in bondage, turning its practice into choreographic instructions. How does one pervert a “perverse” act?
A similar strategy has been applied to all the elements in Monique: all collaborators were searching for disrespectful ways of working with elements they adored.
Different bodily techniques are thus subverted, happily mixed up within the endless horizon of well-known images of the moving body such as gymnastics, contemporary dance, modern dance, sex games, a range of movement therapies…
“SM meets action art meets contact improvisation meets les ballets russes”.
Monique is a dance duet, starting as a set of quiet rituals and evolving into an homage to theater dance of the last century, whose emblematic costumes have been referenced by An Breugelmans’ creations.
The aesthetic of Monique is found on the other side of the cliché, rather than stopping short of it, light, décor and music all shamelessly trample over ideas of good taste in a search for theatrical liberation.
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Alexander Meeus
Credits
Choreography: Alix Eynaudi
Performers: Alix Eynaudi & Mark Lorimer (or Clinton Stringer)
Costume design: An Breugelmans
Collaborators: Lars Kwakkenbos, Karen Lambæk, Jean-Luc Plouvier, Bruno Pocheron, Herman Venderickx & Kris Verdonck
Photography: Alexander Meeus
Booklet design: Compagnie Paul Verrept
Production: Margarita Production for the Other vzw
Coproduction: Kaaitheater, Tanzquartier Wien, Buda, Workspace Brussels
With the support of: Pianofabriek, Wp Zimmer, Vooruit, the Flemish authorities & the network DEPARTS – the Culture Program of the European Commission.
Thanks to: Maîtresse Athena & Monique
Music:
Conlon Nancarrow Study for Player Piano No. 20, No. 15, No. 44
Gérard Pesson Nebenstück
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 151: I. Maestoso – Poco piu moderato
interpreted by the Berliner Philharmoniker, Krystian Zimerman & Sir Simon Rattle and arranged by Jean-Luc Plouvier
** The booklet MONIQUE is for sale here **