As cruel as a political debate, as savage as a school playground, as strict as a wrestling bout, as animated as a trading floor, the arena of “DéBaTailles” is a new area of confrontation. The performance unfolds like a competition. Two teams (the fair-haired against the dark!) square up to each other in dance challenges. The performers can move from one camp to the other by changing wigs. Like in a debate, the candidates oppose one another with elegance and courtesy but blows below the belt are allowed. They launch mercilessly into battle: their weapons are fantasy, ingenuity, derision, humour and a hint of meanness.

“I have always been fascinated by ‘social dances': from traditional dances to hip-hop battles. In these traditional choreographies there is a basic rapport with dance that places the person at the heart of a group. The choreography is organised according to an internal logic, a culture, a history. It is not turned towards the exterior (an abstract audience) but towards the group as a whole. It is fascinating to play with these codes and to invent new traditions. This provides an inexhaustible mine of games. I like to construct the bases of a new folklore and dance them as if they were ancestral. The challenge (imposing oneself on the group) is a natural component of group dances. It obviously has its place in our battles.”

Denis Plassard

Credits

Choreography Denis Plassard
Dance performance Compagnie Propos
Conception, direction Denis Plassard
With the complicity of the interpreters Xavier Gresse, Sylvain Julien, Jim Krummenacker, Vincent Martinez, Denis Plassard
Musicians (interpretation, composition) Nicolas Allemand or Quentin Allemand (percussions), Jean-Paul Hervé (guitar), Norbert Pignol (accordion)
Lightening lumières Nicolas Boudier
scenography Nicolas Boudier, Denis Plassard
Costumes Béatrice Vermande, Julie Lascoumes, Natacha Costechareire
Wig José De Pedro
Rehearsal coach Géraldine Mainguet
General set Sébastien Revel régie lumières Nicolas Boudier ou Dominique Legland
Sound Éric Dutrievoz ou Emmanuel Sauledubois
Coproduction Maison de la Danse/Lyon, Château-Rouge/Annemasse, Le Théâtre/Le Puy-en-Velay, Théâtre Durance/Château-Arnoux-St-Auban, Compagnie Propos
Project supported by the Rhône-Alpes Region within the framework of the APSV "Réseau des villes"
Compagnie Propos is subsidized by the Ministry of Culture (DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and by the City of Lyon.

Video production Charles Picq date of the video document 2008 production Maison de la Danse

Duration of the work 1h20

Denis Plassard started to dance on a misunderstanding : wrapped up in crepe paper for the "End of the Year Show" in primary school, he was convinced that the steps meant something and that putting them together was just like writing sentences to tell a story... Since then, a question (a bit odd for a dancer/choreographer) haunts him: what does the movement mean? What do we say when we move?

He then decided to study dance and entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Lyon. After he graduated, he danced for 2 seasons with Josette Baïz's company in Aix-en-Provence.

In 1991, at the age of 23, he set up his own company named after his first solo, “Propos”, which was created the year before. Very early in his choreographic career, he tried to create dynamic links between speech and movement and his work focused on the connection between "Dance and Text". His choreographic writing is precise, sharp and very theatrical, and his style is quirky and full of humour and derision. Prolific choreographer and eager dancer, he enjoys being confronted with new universes and is continually looking for artistic meetings and crossroads between different aesthetics.

From Kafka to Mermet, from Bizet to Labiche, from the stage to the circus ring, he keeps having new ideas that mix hip-hop, circus, music, theatre and dance.

Source : The company Propos 's website

More information : compagnie-propos.com