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French artist Franck Vigroux brings his dazzling multidisciplinary work Forêt to Vancouver as part of our Global Dance Connections series October 20-22. Our Executive Director Mirna provides some insights into his unique work.
Who is Franck Vigroux?
Franck Vigroux is truly a multifaceted French artist! His works range from experimental music and modern composition to theatre and dance. His uniqueness stems from his artistic approach which integrates new media, performance arts including dance and movement. His work brims with rich visually-saturated sensations stemming from his interest in visual arts and his collaborations with artists such as Kurt d’Haeseleer. Musically his work makes use of beats, electronic textures, and a very personal approach to sonic explorations. He has worked with renowned musicians such as Elliot Sharp, Mika Vainio, Reinhold Friedl, Ars Nova…the list is quite impressive. Yet, he is one of the humblest of artists I know!
What kind of show is Forêt?
Forêt reflects Franck Vigroux as an artist and musician, and speaks of what true collaboration can bring about. The work can be viewed as a visual and sonic collage that engages with movement reflective of butoh. It’s the relationship between music, visual and performative elements that is so special. He signs himself as ‘director’ but he ‘choreographs’ all the elements and carefully weaves them together. The work provides a certain sense of escape into the imagination.
What made you decide to bring this show to Vancouver?
I have presented several of Franck’s works in my role as advisor/curator for international festivals. I appreciate deeply his talent to create a dazzling universe through music, dance, sound, video. Forêt is this dreamlike passage from one place or state to another. We observe the journey of a solo dancer –physical and emotional – and witness the forest shifting and transforming around her. We don’t always know exactly where our own journeys will take us, we go through emotions, imaginary and real events, we lose or discover ourselves – or we exhaust ourselves in the effort of trying. This is life. But Forêt is this hypnotic experience, where time seems suspended, we are immersed with the dancer into the moment, in a world of beauty. This is an extraordinary sensory experience that I wanted to share with our audiences. It seemed right following the challenging times we as a society are coming out of as we emerge from COVID into a changed world.
Anything else we need to know?
The work is for anyone interested in experimental film, video, sonic music, contemporary dance, butoh, contemporary theatre, physical theatre, visual arts, performance arts… so I do hope that audiences will take this rare opportunity to discover Franck’s unique universe. The Dance Centre aims to offer unique dance and arts experiences that open up new worlds through the crossover and collaborative nature of the artists we bring from afar!
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The Dance Centre presents the Global Dance Connections Series
Compagnie d’Autres Cordes – Franck Vigroux: Forêt
October 20-22, 2022 | 8pm
Scotiabank Dance Centre
Info and Tickets
Photos: Quentin Chevrier