Under construction (2002)

Premiered on September 6th 2002, Schaubuehne, Berliner Festwochen Festival, Berlin, Germany

PRESENTATION

For Under Construction, Jobin was interested in the Big Bang, the laws of planetary rotation, group phenomena and above all Craig Reynolds’ super-organisms (the “boids”). According to Reynolds, each symbol, in the form of a line, is associated with a certain piece of information: each symbol tries to stay in the centre of the swarm, it keeps a minimum distance from its neighbour; the direction and speed of each boid adapts to the direction and speed of its neighbour. The “organic” writing and dancing of Under Constructionreproduces universal life in an original dialogue between mass and energy, geometry of forms and carnal impulses.

Asexual bodies are manipulated by endless twists and turns; sliding bodies accompanied by the electronic waves of Franz Treichler. Like a work under construction, which reacts to external variations, Jobin constructs a movement in a circle. In eights and diagonally, they gradually end up forming a group, from which one or the other is often aggressively rejected. He stages a multi-faceted body, constantly undergoing choreographic metamorphosis. In search of organically organised movement, the choreographer compels the dancers to listen to the body. On stage, each gesture is affected by this. The dance becomes skin with all its pores open. Under Construction renounces all explanations: the individual is nothing more than an element of perpetual motion.

TOUR

2004
13 March: Danse à Aix, Aix-en-Provence, France
28 July: Montpellier Danse, Montpellier, France

2003
26 March: L’Arsenal, Metz, France
26 April: Spring Dance, Utrecht, Netherlands
17 to 19 October: Arsenic, Lausanne, Switzerland
12 November: Maison de la Culture de Bourges, France

2002
6 to 8 September: Berliner Festwochen, Berlin, Germany
20 to 22 September: Venice Dance Biennal, Italy
25 to 27 September: Oltre Festival, Milan, Italy
2-3 November: Dance 02 Muffathalle, Munich, Germany
8-9 November : Moving November Festival, Helsinki, Finland 
12 to 16 November: Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, France
17 to 19 November: Théâtre Arsenic, Lausanne, Switzerland

Credits

Choreography Gilles Jobin
Music Franz Treichler
Dancers Christine Bombal, Jean-Pierre Bonomo, Vinciane Gombrowicz/Dominique Grimonprez (cast 2), Gilles Jobin, Pierre Rigal, Florence Rougier/Enora Rivière (cast 2), Lola Rubio
Sound Engineer Clive Jenkins
Lighting design Daniel Demont
Costumes Karine Vintache
Costumes Assistant Mahemiti Deregnaucurt
Assistant Choreographer Laura Beurdeley

Production Parano Fondation – Lausanne, Switzerland
Co-production Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, France – Berliner Festwochen, Berlin, Germany – Venice Dance Biennal, Italy – Théâtre Arsenic, Lausanne, Switzerland 

Supported by City of LausanneCanton of VaudFondation Stanley JohnsonPro Helvetia – Swiss Arts CouncilLoterie Romande

Gilles Jobin is an associated artist of Théâtre Arsenic, Lausanne, Switzerland