F E E T  O F  C O N T E M P O R A R Y  C O R E O G R P H E R S

Photo Exhibition

Jerome Bel
Jerome Bel
Mathilde Monnier
Mathilde Monnier
Lloyd Newson
Lloyd Newson

photographed Choreographers

Jerome Bel, Jonathan Burrows, Carolyn Carlson, Louise Le Cavallier, Nigel Charnock, Charles Cre-Ange,  Nir Ben Gal, John Jasperse, Koffi Koko, Susanne Linke, Amanda Miller, Lloyd Newson, Mathilde Monnier, Ko Murobushi, Carlos Orta, Steve Paxton, Stephen Petronio, Alain Platel, Xavier Le Roy, Yvonne Rainer, Meg Stuart, Mark Tompkins, Jorma Uotinen, Wim Vadekeybus


Modern dance started when we discovered, at the beginning of the 20th century in Europe, the bare-footed dance. To strip the feet stated a new orientation, away from the classical aesthetics and ballet shoes. In dance the foot becomes an essential means of expression and a tool charged with a high symbolic value.

 

The exhibition of "feet of contemporary choreographers" by Lisa Rastl and Willi Dorner presents dance artists in relationship with their extremities of which Mathilde Monnier says: "La dance, c’est le pied" – Dancing means the feet. The feet of these excellent contemporary choreographers make up a series, showing those of famous colleagues such as Steve Paxton, Meg Stuart, Mark Tompkins, Lloyd Newson, Alain Platel or Nir Ben Gal, forming a kind of picture text about dance.

The portraits of feet offer a touching insight into the personalities, their intimacy, leaving nevertheless a respectful distance. Their comments enrich this impression, for example when Stephen Petronio, choreographer from New York, says: "My feet can’t keep up with my desires!"

The exhibition does not present dance photos but attempts to capture the characters of the respective artists. This is underlined by the short comments which were given during the photo sessions.

Helmut Ploebst, June 2000 extract of the text for the exhibition at Österreichisches Theatermuseum Wien.

 

Exhibitions

Österreichisches Theatermuseum Vienna, A; Springdance Festival, Utrecht NL; Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln, D; ‘Kulturtage Vils’, Tirol, A; Festival ‘Madrid En Danza’, Madrid, ESP; ‘Berner Tanztage 03’, Bern, CH; ‘International Dance Festival Ireland 06’ Dublin, IRL; ‘Maltafestival’ Poznan, PL; ‚Painted Bride Art Gallery’ Philadelphia USA; ACF Washington, USA