MORESPACE COMPANY / DANCE / LIVE MUSIC / VIDEO EASTWARD EVER FARTHER - travel journal - The east, where the sun rises, and is reborn every day anew, a radiant child. Destinies that cross paths and leave behind tracks of movement. Tracks, traces, textile, fabric, felt, yarn, yearn, young, child, children born eastward. To penetrate the Heart, the center, where opposites cease to exist To destroy the veil that covers and stifles the Heart Origins, roots, roaming nomads Borders, permeable and transparent To rediscover the child within To push beyond limits Ever farther Eastward.
When Ambrose Laudani was nine months old his mother deposited him in an orphanage in the Kerala region (in southern India). She then disappeared. Five years later, he was adopted by an Italian family. Today, he is an accomplished dancer. The orphanage called itself Providence Home Ambrose returned to the orphanage of his early childhood between December 2006 and February 2007. He played with the children who live there now. Together with the choreographer Michel Casanovas and other members of Morespace Company, Ambrose Laudani traveled and revisited his homeland. He improvised with Indian dancers, filmed video sequences and was inspired by the sites, sounds and colors of daily life around him. This experience is at the root of Eastward, a project including dance, music and video. The central theme is that of a rootless individual and his search for identity - a fragmented being sets out, en route, in motion, to examine countless doubts and scattered beliefs. Eastward, like any other journey to the unknown, provokes the paradoxical urge to reconsider and redefine one s own origins. Eastward takes place between two separate worlds and brings about the collision of two distinct cultures, India and Europe, with rhythms and borders that call each other into question. It is about the physical east, about the orient, but also about the east in and of itself, as its own point of departure. India, where after an extended stay the great writer Hermann Hesse said he found a homeland and youngness of spirit. The starting point for this new project is the intensely lived personal experience. In a choreography using natural movement, it follows the development of this personal realm as it unfold through relationships and emotional and sensory interactions, all revolving around one given theme: abandonment. A rupture in the flow of an emotionally harmonious period of time, followed by solitude, wandering, destitution. The dizzying sensation of free fall brought on by abandonment leads to a paradoxical strong desire to approach others. The desire to open up to the world is born and the search for what s missing begins. This dynamic, this motion, enables one not only to find oneself anew but to rediscover oneself the opportunity for a lost child to be reborn. The Company spent eight months experimenting with and exploring movement. They searched for a movement vocabulary and language that would come as close as possible to transmitting the feeling and color of loss felt by an abandoned child. The act of listening, silence, not doing, and the simplicity of single gestures great challenges for a dancer constitute the intensity of the work. The effort of letting go, in contrast to that of action, allows hidden memories to emerge and take on new life through movement. The choreography alternates between contrasting rhythms. Raw, natural movements burst forth with pure energy in contrast to minimal body gestures that develop slowly, with control, and are sometimes inspired by Indian dance. After a first series of performances at the Kaserne theater in Basel this pursuit of origins continues. Morespace Company will further develop this central theme during a tour to India - that is, eastward. 2
Michel Casanovas Eastward is an affirmation of the profoundly personal and human destiny, of a story of abandonment, of solitude and the simple joy of living. It is also, though, a travel journal, whose composition, choreography and musicality come from the rhythms of the different stages of our journey to India. It also suggests a journey inward. The pursuit of existence, the essence of being, between reverie and longing, the game of inquisitive children who ask questions they don t really want answered. Just like life, when life demands that we continue to move forward, without knowing in what direction or why. To navigate through the night and darkness of doubt with confidence what irony! For Ambrose and myself this work is about dancing in simplicity and openness, and hopefully conveying a lived experience in all its intimacy, without imposition. Like an offering, like in India to dance on a tightrope, always knowing that it all could tumble at any moment. Michel Casanovas Ambrose Laudani I am very happy to bring to life the story of my adoption. Our origins, childhoods and relationships with our mothers confront us all at some point in our lives. Michel and the Company members felt this too. I never needed to limit the experience of my childhood adoption to myself. The idea of bringing my story to the stage came in part from my desire to revisit the past and to free myself of it - an inner wound which never healed. In part, though, it came from a desire to share with others this intensely beautiful and strong experience. I am delighted to see that Michel could identify with my experience and make it his own. Thank you to everyone who supported this project and accompanied me during this pursuit of origins. Also, immense gratitude to Michel, as together, dancing, we went places nobody has gone before. 3 Ambrose Laudani
Media: The body is fleeting, a shell to be engraved. It is the vase that holds memories and is traversed by feelings. Eastward accentuates the body as motor in a process put into motion by memories and the pursuit of identity. Once again Morespace Company, with the choreographer and dancer Michel Casanovas, display the precision and effect of developing a pure movement vocabulary and language. For a short moment the movements of the two men evoke emotions that can truly be felt. The delicate and sensible staging with video (Marianne Eggenberger, Florian Olloz), lighting (Brigitte Dubach) and live music (Marc Rossier) fully complement the dancing, and the skillful usage of these different media thus helps reinforce the overall effects of the choreography. Eastward symbolizes an individual who hovers between two worlds, who tries to find and redefine himself. Ambrose Laudani s own biography serves as starting point for this allegory that speaks of the need to regain ones roots in a world where many human beings are forced to straddle separate worlds. A rootless tree is suspended above the stage, its crown reaches for the sky. Eastward ever farther makes us realize that this yearning will never be completely stilled. Basellandschaftliche Zeitung, 19.10.2007 4
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MORESPACE COMPANY: EASTWARD Choreography: Michel Casanovas together with Ambrose Laudani Dance: Ambrose Laudani, Michel Casanovas Live music / Sound: Marc Rossier Live video: Florian Olloz Recorded video: Marianne Eggenberger Concept: Michel Casanovas, Michèle Martin Set design: Michèle Martin Costumes: Olivia Estermann Lighting design: Brigitte Dubach Production: Thomas Keller This project was supported by: Fachausschuss Theater und Tanz BS/BL, Pro Helvetia Schweizer Kulturstiftung, GGG, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Stiftung für kulturelle, soziale und humanitäre Initiativen. A warm thanks: to Régine and Daniel Glass for your confidence, and to all the friends and dancers who accompanied us during our research and journey to India: Chris and Christine Lechner, Jim Mant, Kimberly McIntyre, Valentina Moar and Anna Röthlisberger. Contacts: Michel Casanovas / tel: 0041.76.457.14.62 / e-mail: casanovas.michel@yahoo.fr Tom Keller / tel: 0041.79.378.91.07 / e-mail: tom.keller@gmx.net www.morespace.ch 6
Michel Casanovas / Choreography and dance Born in Perpignan (France) in 1965 Schooling: 1972 first ballet classes with Renée Bay in Perpignan. 1982 baccalaureate in dance from the conservatory in Toulouse (classical and contemporary dance). Since 1998 release technique and contact improvisation. Since 2002 yoga in motion (Chris Lechner). Professional experience: 1982 Opéra de Liège; 1983 Théâtre de Tours; 1987 Zurich Tanztheater; 1988-1992 Yolanda Meier Tanztheater, Zurich; 1993-1996 Tanz Ensemble Cathy Sharp, Basel. 1996 founded Morespace Company together with Patrick Collaud in Basel. His work has taken him to Canada, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Indonesia, Singapore and India. Projects as dancer: 1995 Hotel Eden (Chor.Patrick Collaud); 1997 Catur Yuga (Chor.Esther Sutter); 1998 Der Tod und das Mädchen (Chor.Michael Langeneckert); 2000 Nixon in China (Theater of Freiburg in Breisgau); 2001 La chute de la maison Usher (Dir. Cédric Pipoz); 2002 Ciel d Orphée rendu à la terre (Prod. Pierre and Roger Favre) ; 2005»Cruda Belleza» (Teatrodanza Tiziana Arnaboldi / Ascona) Projects as choreographer: 1998 Isola (Morespace); 2000 Mirages (Morespace); 2003 Toro (Morespace) and assistant to choreographer Fabienne Berger (Lausanne / Fribourg) for Avril en Mai ; 2004/2005»Le corps déporté» (Morespace); 2006 assistant choreographer and staging for «Unter dem Mond» by Anna Röthlisberger. Ambrose Laudani / Dance Born in 1973 in Palghat (Kerala India) Schooling: 1986 jazz classes at the»atena» school in Cagliari, later numerous classes in Pavia at a branch of the «Royal Academy School of London»; 1996 six months of classes in «Katakali» Indian dance; 2001/02 «Off-Jazz school in Nice under direction of Giannin Loringett; 2002 Accademia Isola Danza La Biennale di Venezia under direction of Carolyn Carlson. Professional experience: 2003 «Cie Fabienne Berger» in Lausanne ; 2004 project «An En- Corpus» with «DAMOTUS» company in Fribourg; since 2005 member of the company «Artemis Danza» of Monica Casadei in Parma I; 2006 project «Unter dem Mond» in Basel with dancer and choreographer Anna Röthlisberger. Marc Rossier / Music Born in 1964 (Switzerland) Schooling: 1985 Staatliches Lehrerseminar (Bern Muesmatt / Lebermatt; 1990 studies and diploma from the guitar institute in Munich; 1990-2005 numerous internships, notably with: Wayne Krantz (USA), David Fiucznski (USA), Abi von Reininghaus (GER), Paul Gilbert (USA), Frank Gambale (AU). Current projects: Since: 1994 independent music instructor of»modern Guitar». 1995 directs the band «Little Venus». 2001 member of the music group Roland Zoss Muku - Tiki, concerts for children. 2005 instructor of guitar and ensembles at the Linde high school in Biel. CD productions since 2004 (producer, composer, arrangement, musician). 2004: Little Venus «Florence or Bern» (prod: Matt Callahan). K daar «Lullaby» Single. 2006: Little Venus «Lieder, vo dr Wind het gschribe» on the RebeRock CD (pas comp.) Little Venus «Volcano». 7
Florian Olloz / Video Born in 1972 in Basel (Switzerland) Schooling: Studies in Art, Design and Education / Schule für Gestaltung Basel and Hochschule der bildenden Künste Hamburg (GER). Diploma in art and communication from the pedagogical institute in Basel. Projects: since 2001 numerous video projects and performances at international festivals in Switzerland and Europe. 2005 sponsored by the city of Basel for a collaboration with the collaborative MOBILESKINO and received the cultural award from the Alexander Clavel foundation in 2007. Contributes video productions for theater projects including for Matthias Günther, Lars Ole Walburg, Robert Lehniger and Calixto Bieito. Since 2004 collaborates with Isabel Dorn and the theater group Mamouchi in Berlin and Francfort. Marianne Eggenberger / Video Born in 1966 in Frauenfeld (Switzerland) Schooling: since 1995 self-taught as video artist/director. Projects: Multiple directing and videography assistantships for Swiss cinema (Balzli&Cie. film production, Biel and Berlin; Carac-Film, Berne; LangFilm AG Zurich) Since 1998 produces and directs various short films and promotional videos for dance (for öff öff-productions Berne and Anna Röthlisberger, Basel) 2001 video productions for guitarist Giancarlo Niccolai, Berne. 2002 Dance-Video-LiveMusic-Performance with the group S-Connection. 2004/2005 «Le corps déporté» Morespace Company. Michèle Martin / Directing / Set and Costumes Born in 1953 in Geneva (Switzerland) Schooling: 1973-1977 School of Fine Arts in Geneva; 1980-1982 Van der Keelen school for decorative painting in Brussels. Since 1985 numerous sets for theater, opera and dance. Projects: 1985-2000 Chronique d une vie recluse (Geneva), Le Diable et la Mort (Geneva Theater), Tremblement de terre à Santiago (Jura Opera), Bräker (Jura Theater), Le meilleur du monde (Jura-Geneva), Trop tard, Miserez se manifeste, Le théâtre de poche de Cocteau (Porrentruy), Hotel Eden (Delémont). Has participated in all productions of Morespace Company since 1996. Brigitte Dubach / Lighting Design Born in Emmental (Switzerland) 1983 first experiences as technician with various theater and dance troups (Gardi Utter, Fabienne Berger and others). Long-term collaborator with various festivals (Berner Tanztage, Festival de la Cité in Lausanne). Lighting for concert engagements for drummer Fritz Hauser and the percussion group Synergy at the Sydney Opera in April 2000. Light installations at the Pasquart center in Biel for performance by Susanne Daeppen. 2001/02 lighting for Cie MIR in Basel. Has participates in all productions of Morespace Company since 1996. Thomas Keller / Production Born in 1973 in Berne (Switzerland). Schooling: Studies of German language and literature and theater sciences, lic.phil. in Berne. Projects: 2006/2004/2000: Festival office of the Basel Theater. Tour for René and Andi Schnotz. Inauguration event for the Almanach Theater in Berne. 2001: Viper video festival (media management). The Bridge (öff öff productions). Scherben. Dreck tour. 2002: Familienbande Werkschau junge Szene Schweiz. Member of co-lab. Since 2002 GO theater productions. Since 2000 manager of öff öff productions (Berne) and Morespace Company. 8
I no longer remember what my parents looked like, I have forgotten. I remember their voices, when I was a child, I played in the sand, at the beach. They spoke softly, so as not to disturb the sea Small grains of sand, among thousands of other small grains of sand, I had many friends, I was happy. I no longer remember what my parents looked like. One day, they took me to the doors of a desert, they placed me on a low wall, and They left me there. 9