Tragédie — Olivier Dubois

Overview

Acclaimed French choreographer Olivier Dubois will bring two performances of his minimalist, contemporary dance work, Tragédie, to Carriageworks in September.

Tragédie is a meticulously constructed minimalist dance work that features women and men performing a chorus of hypnotically repetitive, marching movements together. Backed by a pounding bass, it is a risk-taking performance in which all performers are naked. Over-exposed in their nudity, the women and men rid themselves of their psychological, historical and sociological anxiety through the constant back and forth movement of their dance. The performance essentially builds until it becomes a giant, on stage, naked rave.

Premiering at the Festival D'Avignon in 2012, Tragédie is famed for the pounding energy that it reverberates through the audience. Dubois was inspired by ideas in Greek history and the philosophy of Nietzsche — particularly The Birth of Tragedy — in which Nietzsche praises the transcendent liberation of dance.

Carriageworks is hosting Olivier Dubois for his first performances in Australia. Considered to be one of the great French figures of the dance world, Dubois works with one of France's renowned centres for choreography, the Ballet du Nord, and has travelled the world with his performances.

Image: François Stemmer.