for 5 voices, live electronics and pre-recorded sounds
music and sound design
Luigi Ceccarelli, Alessandro Cipriani
surround diffusion 5.1
coreography and direction Robyn Orlin
performers:
Ann Masina, Dorothée Munianeza, Angela Simpson, Elizabeth Tambwe, Dudu Yende
images and video Philippe Lainè, assistent Stéphanie Magnant
scenography Alexandre de Dardel assistent Emilie Jouve
costumes Olivier Bériot assistent Gwen van den Eijnde
lights Laïs Foulc
dramaturgy Anisia Uzeyman
duration 70′
1st performance: Luxembourg, Grand Theatre – November 16-17, 2011
production City Theatre & Dance Group
coproduction Les Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Monaco Dance Forum, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, King’s Fountain, Théâtre national de Strasbourg, Le Centquatre – Paris, Théâtre de la Ville – Paris, Festival d’Automne à Paris.
Residence of creation Centquatre-Paris
with the help of École Nationale Supérieure d’Art Dramatique de Montpellier
in collaboration with ONDA and Suona Italiano
coordination in South Africa Jerry Marobyane
infographics Franck Magnant
graphism Valérie De Meerleer
thanks to Museo del Louvre, Alabama – Joël May, William Torres, Raphaël Thomas, Gilles and Christian Boustani and Myriam Bloedé
scenes constrution Théâtre national de Strasbourg / Hervé Cherblanc
administration / diffusion Damien Valette – www.jgdv.net
coordination Daniela Goeller
mounting scenes – Paris 104, Theatre de la VIlle (Paris), Grand Theatre de Luxembourg
Video images realizad with the participation of the cityzens of Elaansdoorn and Leewfontein, Limpopo, South Africa and the students of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Art Dramatique of Montpellier : Henri Alexandre, Maria Apostolakeas, Antoine Baillet, Marina Boudra, Thomas Champeau, Romain Grard, Lou Martin-Fernet, Audrey Montpied, Marion Pellissier, Emmanuelle Reymond, Tristan Rosmorduc, Benoît Saladino, Sylvère Santin, Maxime Taffanel.
For having a body outside the norm, the Hottentot Venus was exhibited before an audience enchanted by the size of her hips, her buttocks and her sex. Saartje Baartman is an emblematic figure for South Africans. In her honor, choreographer Robyn Orlin once again explores our relationship with others and the prejudices that disturb relations between Africans and Westerners. ‘What interests me,’ he says, ‘is what happens when science and entertainment (not to
mention politics) converge in an anthropological manifestation presumably destined to entertain … ‘.
A slave, born around 1789 in what is now South Africa, Saartje Baartman was brought to Europe to be sold as a prostitute. Sexual object, it becomes a study object for scientists and painters. Upon his death in 1815, surgeon and zoologist Georges Cuvier dissected his body and preserved his genitals in formalin to assert his theories of race inequality.
It is no coincidence that Robyn Orlin’s show is created in France: the skeleton of the Hottentot Venus was exhibited until 1974 at the Musée del’Homme in Paris. His remains were returned to his people in 2002 after a long battle with the French scientific world.
Thanks to the presence of five performers, Saartje Bartman multiplies on the stage in front of young French actors who discover his story.
performances
Nov 16, 17, 11 – Lussemburgo (Lux) , Grand Theatre de Luxembourg
Nov 19, 20, 11 – Villejuif (FR) Théâtre Romain Rolland
Nov 22, 11 – Noisy le Sec (FR) Theatre de Bergeries-Noisy-Le-Sec
Nov 24, 11 – Caen (FR) Theatre de Caen
Nov 26-27, 11 – Paris (FR) , FESTIVAL D’AUTOMNE, Paris Centquatre 104
Nov 30, Dec 1-3, 11 – Paris (FR) , FESTIVAL D’AUTOMNE, Theate de la Ville
Dec 6, 11 – Nanterre (FR) Maison de la musique
Dec 9, 10, 11 – Amsterdam (NL) , Stadsschouwburg
Dec 10, 11 – Monaco, Monaco Dance Forum
Dec 16, 11 – Cergy-Pontoise (FR) Theatre des Louvrais
rehearsals at “La Coupole” (Thèatre de La ville-Parigi)
montung at Théâtre de la Ville de Paris
mounting at Centquatre-Paris
mounting at Grand Théâtre de la VIlle de Luxembourg
