It takes a lot of courage and confidence to tackle the crises of our time. It is precisely these qualities that the Belgian choreographer of Moroccan descent, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, tries to bolster. To do so, he lets three dancers from very different parts of the world – Australia, Japan and Colombia – reflect on the most sensitive events in their respective countries: Christina Guieb, Kazutomi “Tsuki” Kozuki and Jean Michel Sinisterra Munoz. The issues at hand are the exploitation of Australian primeval forests by industrial corporations, the traumatic consequences of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the deadly dealings of the Colombian guerrillas. The heavy subject matter is accompanied by vocals and partly documentary videos that run through 3S as a recurring theme. According to Cherkaoui, it’s never too late to do something: “Each individual must use their ability, however small, to act in the world. And resist certain things so as not to agonise over what is going on.”
Concept, direction and choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Performance: Kazutomi “Tsuki” Kozuki, Jean Michel Sinisterra Munoz and Christina Guieb
Moving image: Sabine Groenewegen
Musical composition: Ghalia Benali, Patrizia Bovi, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Karsten Fundal and Tsubasa Hori
Live music: Ghalia Benali, Patrizia Bovi, Tsubasa Hori and Kazutomi “Tsuki” Kozuki
Live video: Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern
Dramaturgy: Timmy De Laet
Text: Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Arwa Damon (CNN) and Alice Eather
Lighting design: Krispijn Schuyesmans
Costume design: Veerle Van den Wouwer
Rehearsal direction: Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern
Stage management and sound: Elric Reinartz
Lighting: Krispijn Schuyesmans
Video: Maxime Guislain
Logistics and stage assistance: Nils Geernaert
Dresser: Saar Swinters
Artistic production and tour management: Alessandra Oliveira
Production: Eastman
Co-commissioned by TorinoDanza Festival, Teatro Stabile di Torino-Teatro Nazionale (IT)
Copyright (video): GREENPEACE and SONUMA-RTBF archive images
Thanks: Karthika Naïr, Katrina Channells, Anna Sato, Michael Eather, Noni Eather, Grace Eather, Darius Devas (Being Films), Akihide Oishi (Iwakubi Onidaiko) and Rintaro Murayama (Iwakubi Onidaiko)
With the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation (BE), the Flemish authorities and the Tax Shelter of the Federal Belgian government
Eastman is in residence at DE SINGEL | International Arts Centre, Antwerp (BE).