In The Making of Spectacles, audiences are invited to collaborate with the artistic team in order to compose a unique performance. The elements presented: dance phrases, dramatic scenarios, music, lighting design, and costuming, are carefully crafted in advance and offered as tools to the spectators for the creation of a dance to their taste. After playful, democratic voting, where humour is invited, the spectators can enjoy the synthesis of their group decisions.
"My work as a choreographer" said d'Imobilité, "has had me 'dancerunning' through the streets of Cairo, counting votes of the audience as they chose the outcome of a dance, and using my face to animate a Francis Bacon painting. I am interested in finding the appropriate form in order to express a particular concept, and as a result, my pieces are very different in look and structure."
D'Imobilité, born Frédéric Gafner in Geneva, was a student of the late Merce Cunningham, one of the creative forces of American dance. His solo and collaborative works have earned him numerous international awards, including a New York Bessie Award (1995) and more recently an individual Grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, New York (2009). His work also has graced the stages of the Paris Opera, the Fenice Theatre in Venice, Italy, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and over 40 other cities in Europe.
Because he employs various theatrical modes and his choreography is full of play, illusion and risk, D'Imobilité's work has been hard to categorise. Pure dance, theatrical dance, experimental theatre, performance art, mime, and even stand-up comedy are amongst genres describing his work.
The Making of Spectacles has its first performances at the Jomba! Festival, Durban, on 9 and 10 September at 7.30pm at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. There is a post-show discussion with the performers, hosted by Adrienne Sichel. Tickets cost R30/R45 from Computicket or at the theatre.
The production then goes to the Little Theatre, Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street in Cape Town. Performances are at 8pm on 13 and 14 September. Tickets are R40. Call +27 (0)21 480 7129 or email az.ca.tcu@ertaeht.elttil to book.
The second production, Pina Jackson in Mercemoriam will be performed on 15 September at the Methodist Church Observatory/Theatre Arts Admin Collective, Cape Town at 8.15pm. Tickets are R40. Call +27 (0)21 447 3683 or email az.oc.bewm@nimdastra to book. On 16, as part of GIPCA's Great Texts lecture series, the production will be presented at Hiddingh Hall, Hidding Campus, Orange Street, Cape Town at 5pm. Entrance is free. Contact +27 (0)21 480 7156 or email az.ca.tcu@acpig-nif. Tickets are also available at the venues 45 minutes before the performances.
In Pina Jackson in Mercemoriam, Foofwa d'Imobilité channels the spirits of three "royals" of dance who within one month passed away: King of Pop, Michael Jackson; Queen of Tanztheater, Pina Bausch; and the Emperor of Dance, Merce Cunningham. Avoiding morbid portrayals, D'Imobilité instead constructs something of a choreographic comedy - a triple "humouriscritic" tribute.
The final two performances in South Africa will be at the Arts Alive International Festival, Johannesburg on Saturday, 18 at 7.30pm and Sunday, 19 September at 7.30pm and will take place at the Dance Factory, Newtown. Tickets are R55/R85 and may be booked through Computicket www.computicket.com or at the festival. Both works will be performed.
Maputo will have two performances of The Making of Spectacles at 7pm on 23 and 24 September at The Centre Culturel Franco-Mozambicain (CCFM). Contact details to book and more information are available at moc.zomfcc@ofni and +258 21 31 45 90.
The tour ends on 29 September at the i'Trôtra Festival, Antananarivo with both productions : Pina Jackson in Mercemoriam at 6pm and The Making of Spectacles at 7pm. More details from itrotrafestival@yahoo.fr (+261) 20 26 010 83.
There will be discussions with D'Imobilité and the dancers after all performances on the tour.
For more information about Foofwa d'Imobilité and his tour contact Eitan Prince at Pro Helvetia Cape Town on +27 (0)21 465 9033 or az.gro.aitevlehorp@snoitacinummoc and www.foofwa.com
