Béla

Together with the contemporary music ensemble Ictus, Claire Croizé and Etienne Guilloteau embark on a new creation for four dancers and four musicians. Set to the explosive tones of Béla Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, the performance explores the power of movement and the impact of music on the body. In dialogue with Bartók’s unique nocturne, the dancers and musicians search for a contemporary definition of the concept of nature.

No longer a source of contemplation for – and exploitation by – humans, but a vast space of negotiation between all of earth’s inhabitants, teeming with gestures, noises and complex interactions.

This explosive piece by Bartók is in constant motion: patterns shift and reorganize, and rhythm is constantly disrupted and rediscovered. The first movement of the sonata balances between abstraction and bursts of energy, making it extremely danceable despite its unpredictable twists and turns. Through echoes, imitations, canons and fugatos, the musical structure becomes more complex and vibrant, evoking the richness of organic life.

The second movement of the sonata is typical Bartókian nocturne. This soundscape does not evoke a romantic lunar landscape, but a restless, rustling ecosystem full of animal and plant activity. The night is a living organism, crawling with sound and movement.

The third and final movement of the sonata creates an exhilarating climax. The music moves from chaos to clarity, from darkness to light. This progressive energy demands extreme precision from the musicians and requires complete concentration on stage. The dancers rise to this challenge and embrace virtuosity as a core value.