RHAPSODIE
A Sylvain Émard Danse and Danse Danse co-production, supported by the Canadian National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
Propelled by indomitable energy, 20 dancers are surrounded by fascinated spectators, witnesses to the intrinsic force of the group, of a mass movement taking shape.
Bodies freely respond to hypnotic, essential music, revelling, almost despite themselves, in spontaneous movement, guided by a subversive impulse. A manifestation, a convocation or a ritual, this communion of spirits strikes a powerful chord as it captivates. Dance imposes and claims its place, revealing to the audience the unique identity of each performer during the course of the performance.
Fascinated by discos and dance halls and convinced that dance responds to a fundamental, irrational human need, with this work the choreographer presents a snapshot of a society in constant upheaval.
A tribute to the liberating power of dance, Rhapsodie celebrates the visceral and instinctive side of our nature. While the dancers respond to the rhythm of the music with fervent, swirling movement, what emanates from these transfixed beings is the essence of humanity undergoing profound change.
This creation is also made possible thanks to Secretaría de Cultura, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura, Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA), the Centro de Producción de Danza Contemporánea (CEPRODAC) of Mexico, the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie and Philadelphia's FringeArts.
See also Preludes to Rhapsodie.
CREDITS
CHOREOGRAPHY Sylvain Émard
DANCERS Lou Amsellem, Sophie Breton, Charles Cardin-Bourbeau, Matéo Chauchat, Félix Cossette, Marilyne Cyr, Marie-Michelle Darveau, Janelle Hacault, Mathieu Hérard, Kyra Jean Green, Christopher LaPlante, Alexandre Morin, Erin O’Loughlin, Mateo Picone, Raphaëlle Renucci, François Richard, Cara Roy, Marie-Philippe Santerre, Lila-Mae Talbot, Camille Trudel-Vigeant
REHEARSAL COACH Daniel Villeneuve
ORIGINAL SCORE Poirier, Martin Tétreault
LIGHTING André Rioux
COSTUMES Marilène Bastien
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR André-Anne Garneau
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Audrey Janelle
REVIEW EXCERPTS
"In the intimacy of the Wilder Building venue, the dancers performing Rhapsodie by Sylvain Émard Danse almost invited us to take part in their rave. After two years of the pandemic, the sight of this group of dancing bodies, carried away by the original music of Poirier and Martin Tétreault, had something supernatural about it." Caroline Montpetit, Le Devoir, Montréal, Canada, March 2022
"With Rhapsodie, the talented choreographer delivers a strong dose of invigorating energy into our pandemic languor, presenting a jubilant, transformative 60-minute dance whose pace never slackens." Luc Boulanger, La Presse, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
"Rhapsodie: The Algebra of Sylvain Émard
The effect of this piece is lyrical and melodic, like a long chain of bodies exploring together the possibilities and joy of dancing. […] The mathematics of Sylvain Émard is thus full of life. It is a society whose inner core pulses with dance, its logical syntax being movement and gesture […] "
Guylaine Massoutre, Revue JEU, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
"Rhapsodie is a series of timed tableaux where the flurry of skilfully executed movements offers the spectator the chance to observe in detail the emotions of each performer […]" Thomas Bastien, patwhite.com, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
"An enchanting Rhapsodie by Sylvain Émard." Sophie Jama, Pieuvre, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
"It exudes the joy of dancing as a group, touching and interacting as a cohesive whole, a piece that also evinces energetic, gentle and benevolent harmony." Yves Tremblay, Le Lien Multimédia, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
"The stage is no longer simply a place to present a show like any other, but a sanctuary for a collective ritual in praise of an ancient power long lost in the mists of time. It is as though this gesture reveals to us hidden senses, meanings long concealed." Élie Castel, KinoCulture Montréal, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
"Enhancing the talents of the ensemble was the warm reception to the piece from spectators who, after months of isolation and darkness, were amazed by what they had just seen!" Marc-Yvan Coulombe, Les ArtsZé, Montréal, Canada, February 2022
CALENDAR
April 2024 – Théâtre de la Ville, Longueuil, Canada
April 2024 – Centre des arts de Baie-Comeau, Canada
April 2024 – Maison des arts de Laval, Canada
April 2024 – Centre Culturel de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Canada
March 2024 – Théâtre Hector-Charland, L'Assomption, Canada
March 2024 – salle J. Antonio-Thompson, Culture Trois-Rivières, Canada
March 2024 – Le Carré 150, Victoriaville, Canada
March 2024 – Théâtre des Deux Rives, SPEC du Haut-Richelieu, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada
November 2022 – OFF-CINARS, Circuit-Est centre chorégraphique, Montréal, Canada
June 2022 – Benefit Event, Circuit-Est centre chorégraphique, Montréal, Canada
June 2022 – OFF-FTA, Circuit-Est centre chorégraphique, Montréal, Canada
February 2022 – Studio-Théâtre at Wilder Building, Danse Danse, Montréal, Canada
