On the notes of J.S. Bach’s compositions, performed live by the Ensemble il Convito directed by Maude Gratton, “Close Up” by Noé Soulier merges physical action, abstract choreographic sequences and concrete gestures in a synthesis aimed at sharpening the senses and shaping perception. Real time video footage multiplies the choreographic space and amplifies the encounter between gesture and musical movement.
Bio
Noé Soulier‘s work explores choreography and dance in different settings, including the stage, the museum space and theoretical reflection. He thus develops a practice that is both conceptual and deeply rooted in movement. His choreographic pieces Faits et Gestes (2016), The Waves (2018) and First Memory (2022), try to activate the physical memory of the spectators with movements that aim at objects or events that are absent, thus suggesting more than they display. The film Fragments (2022) continues this research on the fragmentary dimension of the body’s experience by confronting it with the camera’s frame.The choreographed exhibition Performing Art (2017), created at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and then at Mucem in Marseille, reverses the usual position of dance in the museum by moving the exhibition to the stage, transforming the art handlers into performers and the installation of collections into choreography. In projects such as the book Action, movement et gesture (2016) and the performance Movement sur Movement (2013), he analyzes different ways to conceive movements that offer multiple ways to experience the body.
Born in Paris in 1987, Noé Soulier studied at the National Ballet School of Canada and PARTS in Brussels. He received a master’s degree in philosophy at La Sorbonne University (Paris IV) and took part in Palais de Tokyo’s residency program: Le Pavillon. In 2010, he won the first prize of the competition Danse Élargie, organized by Le Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and Le Musée de la danse.
From 2015 to 2019, he was in residency at the Centre National de la Danse in Pantin. His creations have been presented, among others, by Théâtre National de Chaillot, Théâtre de la Ville, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Centre Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, Festival Montpellier Danse, MUCEM, Sadler’s Wells – London, Performa – New York, MOMA PS1 – New York, Wallis Theater – Los Angeles, Venice Biennale, Romaeuropa Festival, Kunstenfestivaldesarts – Brussels, Kaaitheater Brussels, Tanz im August – Berlin, Theater Freiburg, Tanzquartier Vienna, Teatro Municipal do Porto.
He choreographed pieces for Ballet du Rhin (D’un pays lointain, 2011), Ballet de Lorraine (Corps de ballet, 2014), L.A. Dance Project (Second Quartet, 2017), Lyon Opera Ballet (Self Duet, 2021), Nederlands Dans Theater (About Now, 2023) and
Trisha Brown Dance Company (fall 2023).
Credits
Conception, choreography: Noé Soulier
With: Julie Charbonnier, Nangaline Gomis, Yumiko Funaya, Samuel Planas, Mélisande Tonolo, Gal Zusmanovich
Music: pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach Art of Fugue, and extract from Sonate n2 for violon solo
Interpreted by Ensemble il Convito: Maude Gratton, harpsichord and artistic direction
Amelie Michel, traverso
Sophie Gent or Christine Busch, violon
Claire Gratton, viola da gamba
geet Zweistra or Keiko Gomi, cello
Assistant: Stephanie Amurao
Artistic collaboration: Julie Charbonnier, Nangaline Gomis, Yumiko Funaya, Samuel Planas, Mélisande Tonolo, Gal Zusmanovich
Scenography: Noé Soulier, Kelig le Bars and Pierre Martin Oriol
Light: Kelig Le Bars
Lighting management: Nicolas Bazoge
Video: Noé Soulier and Pierre Martin Oriol
Sound engineering and video management: Jérôme Tuncer
Head of production: Céline Chouffot
Tour manager: Adèle Thébault
Production Credits
Production: Cndc – Angers
Coproduction: Il Convito, Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Angers Nantes Opéra, Romaeuropa Festival, Espaces Pluriels Scène conventionnée danse (Pau), Theater Freiburg, Arsenal Cité musicale de Metz, Maison de la danse Pôle européen de création (Lyon), Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers, Chaillot Théâtre national de la danse (Paris)
With the support of OARA (residency program), Villa Albertine and Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels
