Ashes

After a well-received performances in Zürich and Paris, choreographer Koen Augustijnen returns to Flemish soil with Ashes, his latest production for the Ghent-based Les Ballets C. de la B. The subtitle reads “Nothing lasts forever”, which eloquently sums up the central theme of mortality.

The much in-demand Flemish alto Steve Dugardin sings a contemporary adaptation of Händel’s beautifully expressive love duets together with a soprano (either Amaryllis Dieltiens or Irene Carpentier), while eight acrobats and dancers provide the visual feast illustrating how far people will go to maintain what they have achieved. For the storytellers, the outcome is sadly inevitable. Holding on is easy; letting go is an art. Ashes illustrates the intricate relationship between these dual forces.

Founded in 1984 by Alain Platel, whose role fluctuates between performer, choreographer and artistic director, Les Ballets C. de la B. is the Belgian leader in theatre dance fusion. They were in part responsible for “the Flemish Wave” – a turning point in the late 1970s and 1980s when Flemish performing arts took off internationally, thanks to the groundbreaking work of choreographers like Platel, Wim Vandekeybus and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

The company’s full name is Les Ballets Contemporains de la Belgique, which served as a commentary on both Belgium’s infamous language divide (which hasn’t changed much in 25 years) and ironic recognition that modern dance was outshining and outselling ballet, which had become characterized as being stuck in tradition and unable to re-invent itself for a modern audience.

Les Ballets soon became famous for its eclectic and often surreal mix of dance, theatre and music. It is an artistic platform that reaps the benefits of not only the collaboration between various choreographers (which is unique in Flanders) but also of a wide variety of talented young artists with diverse backgrounds.

Far from a vanity project for Platel or anyone else, dancers’ personal contributions make each performance a vital entity with a distinct social conscience. These constant and blossoming influences result in a unique contemporary mix that might be summed up by the company’s motto: “This dance is of the world, and the world belongs to everyone”.

Flanders Today March 18 2009