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| A scene from "Nile" by Swiss troupe Compagnie 7273. The troupe will stage two representative works next week in Shanghai.(Shanghai Daily) |
The ongoing Shanghai International Contemporary Theater Festival not only offers a range of foreign and traditional Chinese dramas and plays, but also creative contemporary dance.
Dancers from the Swiss troupe Compagnie 7273 will stage two representative works, the ballet "Nile" and duo-dance "Romance-s" at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Both the dances will showcase a unique dance style called fuittfuitt, which has become the signature of the troupe, say choreographers Laurence Yadi and Nicolas Cantillon. The duo formed the Compagnie 7273 nearly a decade ago in Geneva and named the troupe after their birth years of 1972 and 1973.
Fuittfuitt-style was developed over 10 years of studying movements and was influenced by world tours and different cultures. "Some rules include that the dancers don't repeat any movement twice and focus on fluidity ... It's very precise and specific, inspired by the calligraphy of the Middle East," Yadi says.
"Nile" is a hypnotic modern ballet by six artists aiming to create "a sort of fluid and strong movement in an Afro-Oriental mood." The piece is constructed as a crescendo of a nostalgic Oriental music written by Sir Richard Bishop, a US experimental guitarist inspired by the music of India, the Middle East and North Africa, sometimes with a hint of Roma.
"Hailing from the Middle East as we did, the composer has a very sensitive approach to our movements," says Cantillon.
As for the dance "Romance-s," Cantillon composed the music, then the duo decided to dance to the silence and the breathing of the performers, "because it was interesting compared to the music itself," he says.
With a strong touch of flamenco, the silent "pas de deux" follows a chronological history of love, telling of conflicts, tenderness, vulnerabilities and the drama of modern relationships. "It's not just our story, but the story of everybody," Yadi says.
Both the pieces require a high-level of fluidity and skill.
"We hope the audience will see themselves and their personal story in 'Romance-s,' and as for 'Nile,' it's a hypnotic piece, a trance. We'd like to feel them dancing in their seats."
Before getting involved in dancing, Cantillon played rock music while Yadi was a sports student in Paris. After dancing with different companies, the two met in Geneva and create the their own troupe. They have created 12 dance works.
The troupe received the Swiss Dance and Choreography Award last year and won second place in Tanzwerkstatt Europa competition in Munich in June.
Date: November 20-22, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, 288 Anfu Rd
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