Maguy Marin, whose startling and radical
re-inventions of “Cendrillon” and “Coppélia”
moved audiences to laughter and tears with their fantastical wit
and humanity, will present the New York premiere of “Les applaudissements
ne se mangent pas” (“One Can’t Eat Applause”)
at The Joyce Theater, April 6–11. The week marks Compagnie
Maguy Marin’s third engagement at The Joyce.
“Les applaudissements ne se
mangent pas” resonates with Marin’s abiding concern
for human freedom and her relentless faith in art as a means of
spiritual transformation. Although inspired by “The Open Veins
of South America” by the Uruguayan poet Edward Galeano, the
dance’s theme is universal in its warning against the horrors
of dictatorship with its resulting suspicion, alienation and dehumanization.
Originally commissioned by the 2002
Lyon Biennale de la Danse whose theme was South America, the 65-minute
dance suggests the complexity of the political, social and cultural
life of the continent without using a single folkloric or traditionally
expressionistic movement. Performed by Marin’s nine-member
company, the work makes virtuosic demands on its dancers whose complex
movements appear deceptively pedestrian.
The set is a curtain of brightly colored
strips enclosing the three sides of the stage through which the
dancers mysteriously appear and disappear not unlike the victims
of South American dictatorships. The bright colors represent the
traditional notions of South American culture, which contrast dramatically
with the oppression that often underlies the social structure. “Les
applaudissements ne se mangent pas” features original music
by Denis Mariotte, costumes by Chantal Cloupet and lighting by François
Renard.
Born in Toulouse, France to Spanish
parents, Maguy Marin began studying dance at the age of eight at
the Toulouse Conservatory. At 16, after winning the Conservatory’s
highest honor, she studied in Paris for a year with the ballerina
Nina Vyroubova. From 1969 to 1972, Marin was a member of the Strasbourg
Opera, dancing as a soloist in such classical ballets as “Swan
Lake” and “Giselle.”
In 1972, Marin enrolled at Mudra,
the Brussels–based dance and theater school established by
choreographer Maurice Béjart. She became a founding member
of the group “Chandra” that originated at the school
and was directed by Micha Van Hoecke. From 1974 to 1977 she danced
with Béjart’s Ballets du XXe Siècle and in 1976
she choreographed “Yu-Kuri” for the Company. Marin also
collaborated with other choreographers such as Carolyn Carlson,
creating works including “Ab,” “Vous dirai-je
maman,” “Aqua alta,” “Notre Faust,”
“Heliogabale” and “Le Molière Imaginaire.”
In addition to the many major works
created for her own 26-year-old company, including “May B,”
“Babel Babel,” “Waterzooi” and “Ramdam,”
Marin has choreographed “Groosland” for the Dutch National
Ballet; “Made in France” for the Nederlands Dans Theater
3; “Ay Dios” for two star dancers of the Paris Opera;
and “Cendrillon” and “Coppélia” for
the Lyon Opera Ballet, where she was resident choreographer from
1992–1994. Compagnie Maguy Marin is presently the Centre Chorégraphique
National in Rillieux-la-Pape.
Marin has received numerous awards
and honors, including first prizes at international choreographic
competitions in Nyon (1977) and Bagnolet (1978), Knight in the Order
of Arts and Literature in 1988 and most recently, the 2003 Samuel
H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement
in modern dance.
Following its season at The Joyce
Theater, Compagnie Maguy Marin will tour throughout France with
stops in Die (April 20); Valence (April 22 & 24); Villeurbanne
(April 27–28); Bron (May 6, 11 & 14); Alençon (May
18); Albi (May 21); Mortagne (May 27) and Flers (June 2). The Company
will also perform in Tunisia (May 1) and Cairo, Egypt (May 24–25).
The evening curtain for Compagnie
Maguy Marin’s Joyce Theater season, Tuesday through Saturday,
is at 8pm; the Sunday evening curtain is at 7:30pm. There will also
be a 2pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $38 and are available at
The Joyce Theater box office or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800
or online at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175
Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.
Compagnie Maguy Marin is a Joyce Theater
presentation.
###
Leadership support for The
Joyce Theater’s 2003-2004 season has been received from the
LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
This Joyce presentation is made possible in part by generous support
from the Grand Marnier Foundation.
Additional support for this engagement was provided with public
funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York
State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and with private funds
from the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund to encourage
the performances of out-of-town companies at The Joyce Theater.
031904
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