20,000 audience members expected this year
June 2nd 2014
Article about the show "L'abri" created by Gioconda Barbuto with the graduating students of The National Circus School.
- Oliver Koomsatira
Half of the graduating students of The National Circus School are performing in a production called L'abri at La Tohu until June 8th. We retrieved a bit of information from the creator of the show, Gioconda Barbuto. Same as the creator of La matrice de Morphée presented on alternate evenings with the other graduates, she too is a dance choreographer with prior experience as a dancer, namely with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Nederlans Dans Theater. She shares with us the process of creating this show: "Firstly, we had a 3 day workshop in March with enthusiastic students, where I dove into a movement workshop and interviewed each of the artists about their "numéros"... I wanted to know what inspired them, why and their emotional connection. From there I truly began to further my research in depth to create possible scenarios for the "mise en scène" and find the link." Indeed the challenge in most circus productions is to find a way the show can hold together and not simply be an Olympic demonstration of number after number. How did she go about it?
"Collaboration was the key to this creation. I had a lot to learn about the circus and we had a lot to learn from each other. I presented a daily movement workshop to strengthen their movement abilities, to open their senses, to bring these solo artists together, to work together collectively, to share and explore new ideas in a creative environment. I had researched and collected a large bank of music that would create the score of the evening and was constantly researching more. I introduced new music possibilities for their numéros, with their approval... until it fit them just right. We actually started the creation on April 27... I was suppose to start the week before but I was in Vancouver premiering my new work for Ballet BC. Normally I would have some rest before creating a new work... but I could not let go of this wonderful opportunity. I knew it would be a fast paced process and so it was, a 4 week compressed, creative, intense but extremely addictive and exhilarating process. I wanted to be as organized as possible but the best moments were when I just listened to the room and let the work show itself... through the different tasks, improvisations and movement workshops and the surprises that happened daily. All of this supported by a wonderful creative team to help me. It takes a team to create this work."
Is it different to work with students than it is to work with professional performers with extensive experience? "I don't treat them any differently but for some students it was the first time they worked on a big production and I realized I had to help them develop the aptitude to work constantly, with the attention needed to get through long rehearsal days. They were not use to this at first but started to understand more and more as the work developed. By show time they were each taking time to lead different sections or dialogue their needs as a group. They continue to do this as the shows continue and this makes me very, very happy."
Speaking of developing the work, what is the concept that binds all these performances together and gives it its spirit? "Firstly there was the surprise of the invitation, a very happy response and immediately I knew I would like to build a shelter idea with walls and roof, doors and traps to play with. I was so impressed by the school last season during my first "workshop" experiences with the circus. It was very inspiring to watch these students from around the world, learning, growing and exploring in this beautiful environment, this creative hub, shelter, "abri". Upon my invitation to build one of this year's annual productions... I knew that I would use this inspiration as part of my theme for the show. The concept of an "abri" (shelter) presented many exciting possibilities to play with and investigate. To create a passage of time, connection, transition, a semblance of coming from and going to but most of all I wanted us to explore a lot, to be surprised daily and have fun! L'abri - that place where they are coming from and going to but also a place they will leave their imprint... always."
In this production, the audience will have the opportunity to see a number of Russian Cradle by Melvin Diggs and Manae Miikeda, Hand to Hand by Nicolas Jelmoni and Charlotte O'Sullivan as well as Mishannock Ferrero and Émile Pineault, Cyr Wheel by Justin Buss, a Trapeze duet by Lindsay Culbert-Olds and Kia Melinda Eastman, Chinese Hoops Diving and a Diabolo number by Sidney Bateman, Swinging Trapeze by Emma Stones as well as Seth Scheuner, German Wheel by Olivier Sylvestre, Tissu by Laurie Adornato and Aerial Straps by Kerttu Pussinen. To have more info on the show, visit La Tohu's website. http://tohu.ca/en/at-la-tohu/shows/the-national-circus-school.html
"Collaboration was the key to this creation. I had a lot to learn about the circus and we had a lot to learn from each other. I presented a daily movement workshop to strengthen their movement abilities, to open their senses, to bring these solo artists together, to work together collectively, to share and explore new ideas in a creative environment. I had researched and collected a large bank of music that would create the score of the evening and was constantly researching more. I introduced new music possibilities for their numéros, with their approval... until it fit them just right. We actually started the creation on April 27... I was suppose to start the week before but I was in Vancouver premiering my new work for Ballet BC. Normally I would have some rest before creating a new work... but I could not let go of this wonderful opportunity. I knew it would be a fast paced process and so it was, a 4 week compressed, creative, intense but extremely addictive and exhilarating process. I wanted to be as organized as possible but the best moments were when I just listened to the room and let the work show itself... through the different tasks, improvisations and movement workshops and the surprises that happened daily. All of this supported by a wonderful creative team to help me. It takes a team to create this work."
Is it different to work with students than it is to work with professional performers with extensive experience? "I don't treat them any differently but for some students it was the first time they worked on a big production and I realized I had to help them develop the aptitude to work constantly, with the attention needed to get through long rehearsal days. They were not use to this at first but started to understand more and more as the work developed. By show time they were each taking time to lead different sections or dialogue their needs as a group. They continue to do this as the shows continue and this makes me very, very happy."
Speaking of developing the work, what is the concept that binds all these performances together and gives it its spirit? "Firstly there was the surprise of the invitation, a very happy response and immediately I knew I would like to build a shelter idea with walls and roof, doors and traps to play with. I was so impressed by the school last season during my first "workshop" experiences with the circus. It was very inspiring to watch these students from around the world, learning, growing and exploring in this beautiful environment, this creative hub, shelter, "abri". Upon my invitation to build one of this year's annual productions... I knew that I would use this inspiration as part of my theme for the show. The concept of an "abri" (shelter) presented many exciting possibilities to play with and investigate. To create a passage of time, connection, transition, a semblance of coming from and going to but most of all I wanted us to explore a lot, to be surprised daily and have fun! L'abri - that place where they are coming from and going to but also a place they will leave their imprint... always."
In this production, the audience will have the opportunity to see a number of Russian Cradle by Melvin Diggs and Manae Miikeda, Hand to Hand by Nicolas Jelmoni and Charlotte O'Sullivan as well as Mishannock Ferrero and Émile Pineault, Cyr Wheel by Justin Buss, a Trapeze duet by Lindsay Culbert-Olds and Kia Melinda Eastman, Chinese Hoops Diving and a Diabolo number by Sidney Bateman, Swinging Trapeze by Emma Stones as well as Seth Scheuner, German Wheel by Olivier Sylvestre, Tissu by Laurie Adornato and Aerial Straps by Kerttu Pussinen. To have more info on the show, visit La Tohu's website. http://tohu.ca/en/at-la-tohu/shows/the-national-circus-school.html
