La Lutte
- Choreographer: Filip Van Huffel
- Dancers: Steven Martin, Matthew Slater
- Composer/musician: Wannes Deneer including “Son Qual Nave ch'agitata” composed by Riccardo Broschi and performed by Cecilia Bartoli
- Lighting design: Andrew Hammond
La Lutte is a new duet that premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010. Belgian choreographer Filip Van Huffel has created an arena where two male dancers challenge their physicality while they wrestle to communicate with themselves, one another and the world around them.
La Lutte (French for The Wrestle) is a physical and emotionally charged work that uses Van Huffel’s signature complex movement style layered with psychological intensity.
The movement is generated from two sources – firstly, observation and improvisation in a day centre for children with disabilities. Filip and the dancers observed and inhabited movement content as the children wrestled to communicate, move and express their emotions. And secondly, a return for Filip to the ancient martial art of Jiu-Jitsu, in which he gained his black belt at the age of 15. This self-defence technique looks at neutralizing an enemy by using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
La Lutte is bold and bright, with powerful, playful, and competitive movement content.
Collaborators
Wannes Deneer – Sound Designer
Wannes studied in Antwerp and initially worked for the Product Design Company Achilles Associates before focusing on theatre design, sound design and performance. Together with Jef Van Gestel and Karolien Verlinden he formed Tuning People Soft in 2003 for which he created a number of performances. He has also worked with the Film Factory / Toneelhuis (Kwartet), with Peter Vandemeulebroecke (De Zingende Vergeetput), with Petra Vermote (Loss), Morel Kristof (Deurdedeurdeur), John Van Dyck (Les Rêveurs Sound Maltraites, Villanella & fABULEUS) and Pitsers (fABULEUS). He has also made sound designs for IPEX (2008) and Kroes (2008) of multimedia collective POK, Ans Kanen and Karolien Verlinden.
Promoter Information
La Lutte is a 30-minute male duet. This is usually performed alongside a 40-minute version of Antipode or is included in mixed double bills in festivals. For technical information please contact the Manager Suzy Gunn .
Press Quotes
“...two dancers at the top of their game”
(Mary Brennan – Herald Scotland)
“...its sheer physicality and visceral combat-meet-contemporary dance language will have you on the edge of your seat.”
(Ellie Carr-The List)
