In cooperation with Codafestivalen
Seven statues wake up to a new life on stage. They move mechanically to the rhythms of pop music, oriental sounds and live percussion as they try to transform themselves into humans. Marlene Monteiro Freitas draws upon Ovid’s tale of the sculptor Pygmalion whose immortal love of an ivory statue makes it come alive and studies this poetic metamorphosis with and ensemble of music and dancers. The audience is invited to a ball populated by grotesque figures and statues that move clumsily and jerkily, almost like puppets, yet infused with inner yearnings for feeling and love.
Marlene Monteiro Freitas was born in Cabo Verde where she was co-founder and member of the dance group Compass. She studied at P.A.R.T.S. (Brussels), at E.S.D. and at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisbon). Some of her creations includes Of ivory and flesh – statues also suffer, Paradise – private collection, (M)imosa, a project developed with Trajal Harell, François Chaignaud and Cecilia Bengolea and Guintche. The common denominator of these works is openness and intensity. (M)imosa was presented at Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival 2014.
Choreography: Marlene Monteiro Freitas. Performance: Marlene Monteiro Freitas, Andreas Merk, Betty Tchomanga, Lander Patrick, Cookie (percussion), Tomás Moital (percussion), Miguel Filipe (percussion). Light and space: Yannick Fouassier. Live Music: Cookie (percussion). Edition and Sound: Tiago Cerqueira. Research: João Francisco Figueira, Marlene Monteiro Freitas. Production: P.OR.K. Distribution: Key Performance. Co-production: O Espaço do Tempo, Montemor-o-Novo, Alkantara Festival (Lisboa), Maria Matos Teatro Municipal (Lisboa), Bomba Suicida (Lisboa )(with the support of DGArtes), CCN (Rillieux-la-pape), Musée de la danse (Rennes), Centre Pompidou (Paris) Festival Montpellier Danse, (Montpellier), ARCADI (Paris), CDC Toulouse/Midi-Pyrénées (Toulouse), Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine (Bordeaux), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brüssel), WP Zimmer (Antwerpen) NXTSTP (med støtte fra EU Culture Programme). Støttet av ACCCA – Companhia Clara Andermatt (Lisboa).
Choreographing Openness by Alexandra Balona. The article was commissioned by Black Box teater for the autumn catalogue 2017. Read here
Conversation with Marlene Monteiro Freitas after the show
Sunday October 22nd.
20.00: Guintche
Tuesday October 24th.
19.00: Of ivory and flesh – statues also suffer
Only 350/200 NOK. The ticket can be purchased at ticketmaster.no