This is Not a Body - Retina Dance Co
This is not a body is the second part in the triptych that Eleven Stories for the body, distance to the soul initiated last year.
It takes the inspiration, not from text this time, but from visual art, developing surrealist themes through both the creation and the performance. Surrealist painters wanted the public to realise that art can be interpreted through emotion rather than intellect. The artistic meaning is up to the viewer to take from each piece, whatever they see or feel.
This is not a body is inspired by Rene Magritte’s Ceci n’est pas une pipe. Magritte believed that he had created a representation of what we understand a pipe to be. It is a pipe but in a different medium. Choreographer Filip Van Huffel is working with visual artist Brian Hartley and composers Dave Boyd and Axelle Kennes to create a piece that challenges the audience in a similar way. The artist is creating representations of the body, projected into the same space as the live dancers, therefore the dancers will be transforming and manipulating the images, making the audience question whether they can really believe what they see.
This is not a body is a collaborative venture for the artists. The process is initiated with an exploration of how the body can be seen from different perspectives and read differently each time, depending on where you are viewing from. The meaning changes if your view is obstructed. Only when we see the whole picture, do we truly believe what we see, but how many times in life, do we fill the gaps to create an understanding for ourselves. Through this piece, Filip is creating a work that is challenging the audiences’ perspective, suggesting an image to be completed in the audience’s mind, only to be manipulated into a different form.
“Van Huffel’s vocabulary is a fresh and unusual mix of abstract moves, mime and theatricality. He bends his dancers in amazing shapes with an intriguing interplay of limbs, quirky balances and exciting athleticism.” (Stephanie Ferguson - The Guardian)
This is not a body highlights dance, visual art and music, and therefore encourages a wide-ranging audience group:
- Dancers and contemporary dance audiences that appreciate high quality dance
- Dance students from Retina’s extensive education programme workshops
- Visual art enthusiasts
- Musicians and listeners interested in original contemporary music
- Mixed art audiences that appreciate dance work that celebrates collaboration with art, music, light, film and set.
- A performance space of 11 x 11m is preferred, but can be reduced to a minimum
- of 8 x 8m
- A grey dance floor is preferred
- The running time of the show is approximately 60 minutes
- Education work is available to support the performance and contribute to audience development. Please see education details enclosed.
- DVD of previous production Eleven stories for the body, distance to our soul
- High quality colour photos - hard copy and CD
- Posters
- Postcards/flyers
- Edited DVD of previous work
- Availability for radio-play and interviews
- Pre- and post show discussions
Available for touring, residencies and workshops in Spring and Autumn 2007.
For a DVD of past work, national and international booking and information contact: Fiona Mason Tel: 00 44(0)1206 825600 email
For more company information please visit www.retinadance.com
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