William Forsythe - The Forsythe Company

The choreographer William Forsythe, the inexhaustible dramaturge who is always focused on change and exploration, has, with his reflections, already contributed to the programme at deSingel for many years. Since 1988 we have kept a close eye on him and have continued to present his work. In 2014 it will be thirty years since, from his base in Frankfurt, he started on his gradual climb to the top in the world of contemporary dance. We shall be celebrating this anniversary is several ways, including a double bill comprising two choreographic works: 'N.N.N.N.' and 'Study #3'. The first, 'N.N.N.N.' is a study Forsythe made for four male dancers at his Ballett Frankfurt in 2002. He conceived it as a brain in four parts, embodied by four men who have a constant, silent connection with each other. Accompanied by the music of the resident composer Thom Willems, they work themselves into a pattern of complex, intense movements. Their arms, heads, legs, and bodies become voices, each with a different tone and in counterpoint to each other. In this way they write a script for the voice of the body, at first slowly, then faster and faster, finally forming a single entity of linked arms and legs. Forsythe made the second, recent work with the dancers of the Forsythe Company for the Teatro Grando in Brescia, which at one time was the venue for the premiere of Puccini's opera 'Madame Butterfly'. In 'Study #3', Forsythe reflects on the relevance of theatre as an environment and on chance parallels between Puccini's opera and his own work. The result is a performance composed of disparate elements from Forsythe's repertoire. Set in a context that is both strange and familiar, his choreographic material gets a second, renewed wind. We are rounding off this 30th anniversary of his career with a workshop led by the former Ballett Frankfurt dancer Allison Brown. Later in the season she will be working with first-year students on the Conservatoire's dance bachelor course for a whole week. We are also organising a colloquium on Saturday 15 March (11 am to 5 pm). Admission is free. You are very welcome to attend.