- Joe
A Dance Programme from Quebec
My Festival 2004 began with dance which is always a strong international programme representing a diverse range of choreography, both classic and contemporary. The Foundation Jean-Pierre Perreault of Quebec, Canada presented Joe, which was created 20 years ago. Perreault died in 2002 and this stunning piece is the signature work of his eponymous dance company.
On the vast space of the Playhouse stage, 32 male and female dancers, identically dressed in raincoats and fedora hats stand in chorus line position. They walk and march in unison, the only sound being the clip clop of their heavy boots. There is no accompanying music. They form into several lines and as a huddled group march slowly around the stage. Suddenly one, then two or three figures individually break free, running up a steep ramp at the back, fall and lie still. In time they slide down the ramp, clamber up again then later rejoin their colleagues in the perennially moving crowd. What is it all about?
People will make up their own mind but the 32 identical "men", seem to represent humanity, the Joe Bloggs of this world, our society, the repetitive, everyday toil and movement of people in cities across the world. The individuals that break away are separated from the crowd, lose the sense of rhythm and appear in limbo. Throughout this 90 minute performance the audience is mesmerised by the dancers' control, their meticulous, continuous marching, grouping, lining-up, without a step out of place. While on one level it is based on quite simple choreography but as an ensemble dance it develops into an intense and unforgettable display of synchronised movement which lingers in the mind.
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