Côté Danse
Côté Danse: Burn Baby, Burn
What sounds so catchy after Disco Inferno, our Earth means: The fire that we all burn daily, our collective action drives global temperatures ever higher. We remain in a dance of denial, and the heat rises. Guillaume Côté wants to ignite a counterfire before climate change spirals out of control: For him, burning symbolizes passion and intensity; the fire should give us the strength with which we can finally bring about change. For over twenty years, Côté has been one of the defining stars of the National Ballet of Canada, where he also choreographed several full-length performances. Now he leads his own company and loves a strongly physical, athletic style of dramatic impact. The music has been composed by Amos Ben-Tal, who once danced with the Nederlands Dans Theater and today also choreographs as a rock musician and composer. “It’s about the flame we carry within us,” says Guillaume Côté – will this fire destroy us or save us?
The choreography is rich in gestural work, enhanced by an additional pulse and rhythm. The dancers seamlessly switch from the collective pulse of the group to solo and duet sequences.
The Dance Debrief, Toronto
The physicality of the piece is intense, with constantly changing, multi-layered sections, where there is much to see. The energetic, fast-paced group sequences captivate the audience, alternating with slower, more complex duets and solos. The piece is wonderfully constructed from beginning to end, leading to an elegant, film-like conclusion (which I will not reveal).
The Dance Debrief, Toronto
“Burn Baby, Burn” conveys a sense of inner cohesion that contemporary works often lack. There are no projections or texts; instead, the theme is conveyed through Amos Ben-Tal's musical landscape of drums and guitars and through various appearances on stage.
What/If Arts: Cultural Speculation from Rebecca Ritzel, Canada
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
