Quando l'uomo principale è una donna/ chorégraphie, Jan Fabre; Lisbeth Gruwez

Biennale de la danse 2004

Dramaturgie: Miet Martens, Scénographie: Jan Fabre, Costumes: Daphne Kitschen, Lumières: Jan Fabre, Pieter Troch; Musique: Maarten Van Cauwenberghe; Production: Troubleyn (Anvers)

Avec le soutien de Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota, Gouvernement de Flandre Accueil Théâtre le Point du Jour, Biennale de la Danse Production vidéo Biennale de la Danse - Maison de la Danse

Coproduction Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), de Singel (Anvers)

Lisbeth Gruwez

The inspiration for this piece was the anthropometric acts by Yves Klein in which bodies were used as living paintbrushes. In Fabre's work Klein's often expressionless prints are given a distinct face and an appealing aroma. The dancer moves beneath a sky full of bottles, from which olive oil first drips then gushes and splashes and finally transforms the whole stage into a reflecting bath. The oil evokes a great many connotations: medical, cosmetic, Christian. The olive tree as Mother Earth, old and indestructible, a balm to the world. But there is ambiguity here too: its fruits were once used as a contraceptive. The musical Leitmotiv is the familiar Italian song Volare (oh-oh) by Dominic Modungo. An ode to Klein's work, and especially his photo Leap into the Void. Fabre sees the whole piece as a ritualistic preparation for the highest leap, which takes us back to the matriarchy. The strength of this solo lies in its constant shifts: from man to woman, from human to animal, from straight line to circle, from rolling, sliding movements to rising slowly upright, like a tree that grows more and more branches, like a swan that has fertilised itself. The atmosphere is summery and Italian, but the howling wind ranges from a gentle summer breeze to an approaching storm. The dancer herself also alternates ritualistic transformations with a juggler's and conjuror's tricks. Humming all the time, she plays with her gender, with balls in her trousers, on her chest or in her mouth. Before you know it an hermaphrodite becomes a sexless angel.