Some Hope for the Bastards

Exhibiting his insolent talent once again at the FTA, Frédérick Gravel is back to kindle our desire for disturbing excitement. Venturing into the Monument National for the first time, he will take the big stage by storm with a choreographic concert of downright corrosive energy: renowned performers, musicians and programmers, plus compositions by Philippe Brault. A grandiose undertaking for a sombre, cathartic celebration.

Steeped in baroque, new wave, post-punk and electro music, the choreographer hijacks the stage to lay waste to the apathy and helpless feelings of impotence of a society that has lost its way. Alternating between scathing duos and powerful group choreography, Gravel constructs a language of movement based on tenacious bodies and pounding pulsation. Constantly on the alert, the dancers remain open to surprises, to accidents. All are fallible, fiery, viscerally engaged. A stunning poetry is born, the sullen mood swept away. From the gloomy shadows emerges art.

Produced by Grouped’ArtGravelArtGroup
Artistic direction and choreography Frédérick Gravel
Performed by David Albert-Toth + Dany Desjardins + Kimberley De Jong + Francis Ducharme + + Alanna Kraaijeveld + Louise Michel Jackson + Alexia Martel + Frédéric Tavernini + Jamie Wright
Rehearsal Direction Lucie Vigneault
Music Philippe Brault performed by Philippe Brault + Frédérick Gravel + José Major
Lighting design Alexandre Pilon-Guay
Costume design Catherine Théroux
Sound design Louis Carpentier
Production direction and stage management Alexandre Pilon-Guay
Technical direction David-Alexandre Chabot
External Eye Angélique Wilkie
Internship Noémie Dufour-Campeau
Développement et promotion George Skalkogiannis + Daniel Léveillé Danse
Production Frédérick Gravel + Daniel Léveillé Danse

Co-produced by Festival TransAmériques + Daniel Léveillé Danse + Fonds de création CanDanse (Festival TransAmériques + Centre national des Arts du Canada (Ottawa) + PuSh Performing Arts Festival (Vancouver) + The Banff Centre) + Centre chorégraphique national de Caen en Normandie – direction Alban Richard through Accueil-studio Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (France) + Muffatwerk (Munich) + Usine C

Presented by Havas in association with Monument-National

Written by Diane Jean
Translated by Neil Kroetsch

Premiered at Festival TransAmériques, Montreal, on June 1, 2017