A poetic performance on la forete bouriffee caught our eyes with its mesmerising movements and powerful expressions. Ballet dancers spoke to Utsav Mishra
One could experience aesthetics of visualised dynamism through 3D presentation by la forete bouriffee at lTG, Delhi. It was the first time experience for the Indian audience to encounter the thrilling act that engrossed them to their seats.
The French-Algerian author Albert Campus once wrote that, “Every act of rebellion expresses a nostalgia for innocence and an appeal to the essence of being”. And if this rebellion is expressed in an imaginative world through dance, the message about the move from childhood to young adulthood is conveyed in a manner that is very endearing.
A poetry performance, la forete bouriffee with two dancers- Christien ben bin and Gill Viandier have attempted to convey this mood in a unique manner that may remind many elders of their own childhood. And the effect was enhanced by the video projections on the screen behind the dancers which took the audience on a poetic journey between virtual images and bodies in motion. The dance drama was being presented by Alliance Francaise with support of Institut Francais, SPEDIDAM, Oman Air recently. The video projections the choreography and set design were done by Christian and Francois Ben Aim, who had interwoven their ideas with the imagination of the author. Jean Baptiste Sabiani gave soulful music, the act was oxygenated with lighting effects. The scenography and video projections deftly interposed virtual images with the bodies in motion, immersing the audience into a world that is as moving as it is extraordinary. The narration was in English sub-titles.
The production was based on the book la foret de MelusineThiry. The story revolves around a young boy Racine who is not an ordinary boy. No one noticed that a tree grew up in his head. In this overwhelming forest, changing according to its emotion, he will go through unexpected adventures. Helped by his loyal friend Mei, he will grow up gradually and learn how to fight his darkest fears, so he can go and meet the world.
The company Ben Aim was composed of two men two brothers: Francois and Christian. Trained in dance, physical theater and circus, they begin separately a career as performers in Canada and France. The reflection of one crosses the instinct of the other in a confrontation that calls for constantly changing art projects. After more than 15 years Ben Aim brothers have given about 350 amazing performances.
“It was very challenging thing for us to perform with many elements like we had to be cooperated with the lighting effects and with the curtains which were moving visually to handle that”, said Gill Viandier, dancer.
According to Christien Ben-Bin and Gill Viandier, dancers, they prefer not only contemporary dance, even classical dance also but their dance culture is French and they have been preparing for 8 weeks".
“We first performed on January 2013. And this is our first international tour where we will perform in 8 different cities like Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Dehradun, Gujarat, Kolkata and Hyderabad,” added Christian, choreographer.