VOICE NOISE
In his work, Flemish choreographer Jan Martens pays tribute to overlooked female performers in music. Through their unique physical expression, six dancers confront recordings in which the human voice can be heard in various guises: humming, soothing, screeching, whispering and singing.
Festival Julidans
Programme section Julidans On Stage
Dutch premier
Location Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Venue Rabozaal
Run time 95 minutes
Genre Dance
Language Language no problem
CONTEXT
Johan Reyniers in conversation with Jan Martens
Date 8 July
Time after the performance
Language English
VOICE NOISE
At the front of the stage is a microphone on a stand, symbolising the anonymity to which many women in music are condemned. The six dancers alternate or interact with an original musical selection based around 'forgotten' female voices from the past eighty years of musical history. Solos, duets and larger group choreographies come and go, sometimes harmonising with the music, sometimes contrasting with it.
The intimate VOICE NOISE is inspired by Anne Carson's essay The Gender of Sound, in which she exposes the oppression of women's voices by patriarchal culture. Carson reveals how women's voices have traditionally been silenced, often regarded as hysterical, out of control or simply as disturbing noise.
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VOICE NOISE, described by one reviewer as a 'unique and lively chamber piece', contains recordings of several singers, including American Ruby Elzy and Camille Yarbrough. There are also more recent discoveries, such as Maria Rossi of underground band Cucina Povera and experimental post-punk group The Raincoats, founded by Ana da Silva and Gina Birch.
Jan Martens intertwines his fascination with geometric patterns with the dancers' expression: sensual, fragile, intoxicating, light and soft. This brings dance back to its core, as an exploration of details and subtleties, re-examining notions of grace and elegance. With this approach, Martens takes another step in his commitment to shaping an alternative canon within Western culture.
ABOUT JAN MARTENS
Jan Martens studied at the Fontys Dance Academy in Tilburg and attended the Dance course at Artesis Royal Conservatory in Antwerp, where he graduated in 2006. His work is fueled by the belief that every body can communicate, and actually has something to say. He was awarded the Prince Bernhard for his work Cultural Fund Prize North Brabant (2014) and the prestigious Charlotte Köhler Prize (2015). RULE OF THREE was nominated for a Zwaan binnen for the category 'most impressive dance production 2018.'
Credits
choreography Jan Martens
co-creation and performance Elisha Mercelina, Steven Michel, Courtney May Robertson, Mamadou Wagué, Loeka Willems, Sue-Yeon Youn and/or Pierre Adrien Touret, Zora Westbroek
music 13 music pieces created / sung by women; full list available on www.grip.house
rehearsal director Zora Westbroek, Naomi Gibson
lighting design Jan Fedinger
costume design Sofie Durnez
scenography Joris van Oosterwijk
sound engineer Vincent Philippart, Valentijn Weyn, Jo Heijens
vocal coaching Ine Claes, Maxime Montjotin
production costumes and scenography Théâtre de Liège
internship Malick Cissé, Sien Wils
artistic advice Marc Vanrunxt, Rudi Meulemans, Femke Gyselinck
trailer and teasers Stanislav Dobák
graphic design Nick Mattan
technicians on tour Elke Verachtert, Valentijn Weyn, Vincent Philippart
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production La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand, Maison de la Danse de Lyon – Pôle européen de production, De Singel international arts center, Théâtre de Liège, Julidans Amsterdam, Le Manège - Scène Nationale de Reims, Romaeuropa festival, DDD – Festival Dias da Dança - Teatro Rivoli - Porto, Scène Nationale de Forbach, Charleroi danse - centre chorégraphique de Wallonie - Bruxelles, Festspielhaus St-Pölten, Tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf, Théâtre de la Ville - Paris, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Équinoxe - Scène Nationale de Châteauroux, Theater Rotterdam, Perpodium
residencies La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand (FR), DE SINGEL (Antwerp, BE), Charleroi danse - centre chorégraphique de Wallonie - Bruxelles (BE)
with the financial support of the Flemish Government, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government via BNPPFFF