VÍ [REC]

Creative notebook

With VÍ[REC], Désir bares all and exposes the juncture between present and past lives.

Years of research and creation: 2011-2012
World premiere: 2012, MAI - Montréal arts interculturels (Canada)

Like a countdown, the messengers will lend themselves to the ritual of life in seven sacred steps. A meditation on the mysterious and erratic flow of breath, and on where it breaches the limits of balance and leaves its mark on the body. Contemporary African dance, the vehicle of breath itself, merges with audio visual projections by Ian Cameron. Accompanied by a percussionist — Joannie Labelle —, a singer who uses an invented language — Ramon Cespedes — and a juggler — Kyle Driggs, the artist brings into focus the constant presence of one’s own breath.

« By immobilizing oneself, one creates a powerful wave; one succeeds in better perceiving the greatness of the movement that the other tries to share with us, like a vibration on the sea.» - Rhodnie Désir » - Rhodnie Désir

Credits

Ascen/danses – Throughout Black History Month, six organizations - Agora de la danse, Circuit-Est, the MAI, Studio 303, Tangente and Nyata-Nyata – will celebrate contemporary creation from artists of the African Diaspora.

Rhodnie Désir, through the MAI’s mentorship program, has benefited from financial support from the Ministère de la Culture, Communications, et Condition féminine du Québec and the Ville de Montréal under the agreement on the cultural development of Montreal 2010–2012. The artist wishes to thank the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Quebec for its financial support under the Vivacité Montréal program.

Artistic director, choreography, interpretation : Rhodnie Désir

Perfomers : Ramon Cespedes, Rhodnie Désir, Kyle Driggs, Joanie Labelle

Videos projections : Ian Cameron

Lighting design and technical director : Caroline Nadeau

Costumes designer : Isabelle Boudreau

Sound engineer : Jean-François Gagnon