Contemporary Technique
explore physicality

The class builds progressivly from deep and static stretching to very physical and dynamic phrases. Some of the main focusses of the class are the explorations or natural connections in the body and how to use gravity (centrifugal force, potential and cinetic energy...) and floor as dance
partners. We will look towards ways of developing a strong sense of organicity, finding a balance between what you control and what you let happen, how to recycle the energy of a movment into another, how to increase the speed of your dancing in a relatively effortless way.

The class challenges the participants to take the risk of exploring their physicality as far as they can, more in their flexibility than in the intensity of their dancing.

(Kneepads recommended)




Physical Verses
to get known of physical concepts

In this workshop we will work around certain choreographic ideas developed in my collaborations with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Exploring different qualities of movements, using intuition and personal background, each participant will be invited to develop and transform some taught repertoire phrases. We'll use certain physical concepts and imagery developed in previous pieces (Rien de Rien, Foi, D'avant, Tempus Fugit) for composition. Kneepads recommended.

Kneepads recommended.


Damien Jalet
Damien Jalet is French and Belgian. After his first studies in theatre at the I.N.S.A.S. (National Institute of the Performing Arts, Brussels) he shifted to contemporary dance studying it in Belgium and in New York. He started his dance career with Wim Vandekeybus on the show The Day of Heaven and Hell in 1998 and danced with choreographers such as Ted Stoffer and Christine De Smedt.

In 2000 he began an intense collaboration with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui as his artistic partner within the company LES BALLETS C. DE LA B. They co-created Rien de rien (2000), Foi (2003), Tempus Fugit (2004), and Myth (2006).
In 2002 he created the piece D'avant in collaboration with Cherkaoui, Luc Dunberry and Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio Esnaola; the short movie The Unclear Age in 2005, co-directed with Erna Ómarsdóttir and the movie makers Dumspiro. Together with Erna Ómarsdóttir, Gabriela Fridriksdóttir and Raven he created the piece Ofaett (Unborn) for the Theatre National de Bretagne.

In 2006 he created the short duet Aleko for the Museum of Contemporary Art of Aomori, Japan, in collaboration with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Alexandra Gilbert. He has been collaborating with the French director Arthur Nauzyciel and the actress Anne Brochet for the creation of L'image of Samuel Beckett for the celebration of his centenary in Dublin.
On the invitation of the philosopher Giorgio Agemben, he also signed the choreography for the contemporary opera Il cielo sulla terra from Stefano Scodanibbio, for the Opera of Stuttgart.

In 2008 together with Nick Knight and Bernhard Willhelm he directed the video men in tights, presentation of the Willhelm Men's collection 2008-09, this being a first step of an artistic collaboration with the designer.
He also signed the choreographic work of Julius Caesar for the American Repertory Theater, Boston and Ordet for the festival d'Avignon 2008, both pieces directed by Arthur Nauzyciel.
In March 2008 he premiered three spells at the Tokyo International Arts Festival, live music by Christian Fennesz.
He assisted Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui for the creation of the piece In Memoriam for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Loin for the Ballet of the Grand Theatre of Geneva, end for the Cullberg Ballet and Sutra for 16 Shaolin Monks.

Damien Jalet studied Ethnomusicology and polyphonic singing with Giovanna Marini, Christine Leboutte, Nando Acquaviva, and Nicole Casalongua amongst others.
He has taught dancers in many international institutions and companies: CHARLEROI/DANSES (Brussels), ImPulsTanz (Vienna), NEEDCOMPANY (Brussels), CHUNKY MOVE (Melboune), Biwako Hall (Kyoto), Panetta Movement Center (New York), HJS (Amsterdam), Iceland Arts Academy (Reykjavik), amongst others.

In 2009 he played a key role in Le musée de la mer, the first play of the writer Marie Darrieussecq, translated by Sjon (Bjork 's lyricist) directed by Nauzyciel and shown at the National Theatre of Reykjavik. Simultaniously he co-directed "Transaquania-out of the blue" with Erna Omarsdottir and Gabreilla Fridriksdottir for the Icelandic Dance Company, in the mythical Blue Lagoon of Iceland. That same year he co-directed "Black Marrow" for the company Chunky Move with Erna Omarsdottir, which was premiered at the Melbourne Arts festival with an original soundtrack by Ben Frost and a setting by visual artist Alexandra Mein. He choreographed and danced in the video You don't know love by the Indie Rock band Editors, which was directed by Arni and Kinski (Sigur Ros, Placebo) and shot by cinematographer Christopher Doyle (In the mood for love, 2046, Paranoid Park, Hero).

In 2010 he co-directed the piece "Babel" together with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, with a team of 13 dancers, 5 musicians and a stage setting by Antony Gormley (Turner prize 94).