Ballet Research
Works 3/1 - I belong to no repertoire

This workshop is inspired by Ducourt’s new piece, that will be shown at the ImPulsTanz festival on the 20th of July.
The material derives from the classical dance and takes focus on the plasticity of the figures and their distinctive form and sculpture like ability to move. Classic dance figures are analysed and emphasis is put on the order, that is structured by the articulation of the joints.
Also, the geometrical aesthetics are examined and upgraded for functional and variable music.
Special focus is put upon the spatial order and dynamics, that coincidentally emerge in an organic or non-organic way.


WORKS BY 3/1 consists of 55 steps or figures from the classical technique, that standing alone, despite their origin in ballet generate a certain neutrality. Phrasing and choreographic development of these elements results in initial combinations in their physical structure, that unfold from the architecture and energy of the joints. For instance you can simply just set 2, 1 or no (jump) foot on the ground, the feet can be positioned flat, on the toe or on the tip of the toe, as their height, direction and tension can be variied. All existing figures are part of a certain declination of possibilities that underlie the anatomy of the joints. The arms are to be considered as a form of secondary voice with the purpose of coordinating torso and legs and complete the figure. On this basis of elements the multiplication of possible forms is developed, and naturally find their way through serial combinations to finally form a choreographic structure.

Influenced by individual dancers the phrases are not dominated by the music dynamics, but are to pair the imperfection of anatomical possibilities to be defined anew.
The individual order of elements creates a kind of distinctive “genetic code“ for each dancer that serves the unfolding of the genome. This genome can be combined with others forming the graphic result.

This approach enables the infinite variation of sequences, as we know from improvisation and choreography.

The research of choreographic structures developed from the coincidental combination and the improvisation with parameters and serial arrangement are given priority.



Jean Luc Ducourt
From 1979 onwards, Jean Luc Ducourt danced for, amongst others in France, Le Four Solaire, Régine Chopinot, Susan Buirge, Georges Appaix, Daniel Larrieu, L'Esquisse before joining Rosas in 1987 ( Mikrokosmos ). Following the production of Ottone Ottone he became Anne Teresa De Keermaeker's assistant and further co-directed Rosas creations until 1993 ("Stella", "Achterland", the film "Rosa", "Erts", "Mozart/Concert Arias"). Since then he created systematically lightdesigns for his own stageworks.

From 1994 onwards, his interests have lain more with theatre as a free lance artist, with a series of productions inspired by Marguerite Duras ("Voix Off" in 1996 and "Rosefeld Theory" in 1998 both produced by Limelight). His creation "I/O Solo" in 2000 marked his return to dance. Then in 2002 "Ballet Labor" starting an approach on abstract composition with ballet dance, he worked with dancers of the Bavarian State Ballet ( Munich).

In 2003 he launched an enigmatic creative process with artists from various other disciplines, which resulted in the performance “Pourquoi quand je te regarde.. “(Monty). In these four last years, he signed also lights and sets for all Mia Lawrence’s pieces (Munich).
In 2004 he started to work with Hooman Sharifi ( Impure Company), for the creation of the duet “The Desert..”( DansinKortrijk ). In May 2005, Kammarspel (text performance for two women based on various Ingmar Bergman’s screenplays) was created for the KunstenFestivalDesArts, Brussels. In the fall of 2006, touring in between his duet with Hooman Sharifi, Jean Luc Ducourt researched for a new stage production, inspired by Paul Claudel’s theatre play “L'annonce faite à Marie ..” , as well for a new dance performance with ballet dancers.

He worked as artistic consultant and production manager on Brice Leroux (Continuum) choreography "QUANTUM-Quintet" for the KunstenFestivalDesArts 2006 in Brussels.

Since 2007 he collaborates with the Kaaitheater together with the composer Alain Franco, resulting in the piece „Figure de voisinages“ with a Solo performed by himself. The new performance is "Works by 3/1 - I Belong To No Repertoire“ and will be shown at the ImPulsTanz-Festival 2008 on the 20th of July.