Three remarquable
dance shows at FTA

Crazy quilts, mechanical line-ups and a tribute to exceptional men

By Jacqueline van de Geer

June 1, 2022

High Bed Lower Castle

Ellen Furey and Malik Nashad Sharpe – Image: Christopher McCrory

Be welcome in the fantastic and imaginal world of Ellen Furey and Malik Nashad Sharpe. Two dark persons are writing on a white wall – are they monks? What are they writing? There are no letters or phrases to be seen – it is invisible writing on the wall. The characters then move slowly towards a treasure chest placed on an island of sand. Hence, the performance is a succession of fantastic figures, various dances, spoken word scenes, a chapter with rats and, as the final touch, both performers sing a sweet duet accompanied by air guitars.

Ellen Furey and Malik Nadhad Sharpe are mesmerizing in this crazy quilt of bold ideas, wild dancing, colourful costume changes, broadly diverse musical tunes and infinite imagination. During 55 minutes, these energetic dancers guide us through a weird yet wonderful performance at La Chapelle. In for something else? Be sure to get yourself a place!

Until June 1 at La Chapelle.

Les jolies choses

Five bodies move to the rhythm of a metronome. Their mechanical gestures endlessly reprised the machine runs wild and demands their absolute compliance.

Created by Catherine Gaudet, Les Jolie choses is a tour de force for the dancers and a challenge for the audience with a high-volume death metal crescendo as the finale of a tight choreography.

This seemingly harmless collective score, with its orderly routes, is performed by Francis Ducharme, Caroline Gravel, James Phillips, Scott McCabe and Lauren Semeschuk. They form a solid team, executing a chore of movements in an endless repetition. Accompanied by hypnotizing repetitive music composed by Antoine Berthiaume, they try to be even, precise in a mechanical line-up. After a while, this repetition reveals itself to be the troublemaker. But there is no escape.

Created by Catherine Gaudet, Les Jolie choses is a tour de force for the dancers and a challenge for the audience with a high-volume death metal crescendo as the finale of a tight choreography.

Until June 1 in the Salle Rouge at Edifice Wilder.

Les jolies choses – Image: Julie Artacho

L’Homme rare

L’Homme rare by Nadia Beugré is a performative and committed dance show where the excellent team of five dancers surprises us during a whirlwind performance.

Five men emerge from the stairs of the theatre out of the dark. They invite the audience to dance with them on stage, starting a party as they get wilder and wilder in their movements. When the audience is back in their seats, the ensemble of five dancers lets go totally, going into a trance. They then rhythmically take off their clothes. One wears a kilt, the other a blouse, another a bra. During the performance, they undress themselves and generously offer themselves to view, a quintet of male dancers who are mostly nude and seen from behind.

‘L’Homme rare by Nadia Beugré is a performative and committed dance show where the excellent team of five dancers surprises us during a whirlwind performance.’

This piece by the Ivorian choreographer Nadia Beugré undermines the machismo and paternalism at all levels and plays on the codes by showing only the female part of the male body. Nadia Beugré transforms the five performers into objects of desire who become sirens, belly dancers, stumbling creatures on red high heels, desert women, but mostly free bodies who enjoy their movement and look for each other’s company, connecting through dancing and even by touching their butts! A sensual, intense and critical choreography, L’homme rare is a tribute to exceptional men.

Until June 1 at the Théâtre Rouge du Conservatoire.

fta.ca/en/programming

Feature image: L’Homme rare, by Ruben Pioline

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