Les Jolies Choses | Compagnie Catherine Gaudet | Vancouver Playhouse | November 22 – 23, 2024
The premise of Les Jolies Choses sounds mundane on the surface: five dancers accompanied by a metronome repeat the same gestures, with slight variations and gradually increasing intensity, for almost an hour. The result, however, is a completely mesmerizing spectacle of endurance, a compelling commentary on the monotony of daily life and the pleasures of breaking free of conformity.
Catherine Gaudet’s piece starts in silence with five dancers in stark white leotards spread around the stage, each repeating their own short movement sequence. This goes on just long enough to leave you skeptical, wondering if it will become more interesting. Repetitive tones start to play; as the dancers’ movements increase in speed and intensity the sound becomes louder. All the while their feet remain tethered to the floor, each dancer meditatively repeating their movements, in their own small world.
Eventually, the dancers begin moving into a different formation, a straight line representative of the rigidity and homogeneity of their movements. Suddenly, one dancer breaks free of the group with a burst of celebratory energy, a mini dance party they are careful to conceal from the others. They have claimed a moment of individuality from within the structure of the group. The power of Gaudet’s choreography is in its apparent simplicity, lulling the audience into a meditative state until a change in the pattern reveals a profoundly relatable element of our humanity.
On top of the compelling statements embedded in the movements, the sheer stamina and endurance required for this piece is astounding. The dancers never stop moving, at times keeping a relatively calm pace, but for the most part performing a lengthy cardio workout, the intensity of which increases to the point they seem to be preparing for a marathon or title fight.
Earplugs were handed out as we made our way to our seats, and it was only near the end of the performance that we understood why. The music grew louder and more rousing, giving the dancers a much-needed burst of energy for the climactic moment. Suddenly they were in a heavy metal mosh pit, sweat flying, frustrations releasing. It was triumphant and inspiring. They finished where they started: in silent unison, conformity restored after their momentary release.
Photo courtesy of Martin Morissette.
