En stor hvid hund
(A Big White Dog)
Solo.
Premiere: 29th April 1999, Kanonhallen, Copenhagen.
Dance is the most fleeting form of art, and this is taken to its natural conclusion in Anders Christiansen's En stor hvid hund. Taking his starting point in improvisation he explores the present moment together with Finnish accordionist Minna Weurlander and light designer Lars Egegaard Sørensen. This solo was originally presented in a double programme together with Millennium Solo.
Concept, choreography and dance: Anders Christiansen
Accordion: Minna Weurlander
Original music: Minna Weurlander
Set design: Dorte Holbek
Costume design: Lise Klitten
Lighting design: Lars Egegaard Sørensen
Producer / PR: Gerd Shottländer
Production: (stillleben)
Minimum stage measurements: 9 x 9 metres
Duration:25 - 30 minutes
Press quotes:
Great steps.
”The grandmaster of minimalism, Anders Christiansen, is venturing right out to the edge with his highly visual solos in Kanonhallen. ...Only the dancer in a white dress over black underwear with sport socks and brown leather shoes together with a fascinating Finnish accordionist, Minna Weurlander, in the highest heels ever. The man disappears and re-appears, he almost isn't there, just as the music almost isn't music, and the choreography almost isn't dance.
It is a balancing act with no net. We are amazed witnesses to a great seriousness, free of self-importance, that by means of hints, hesitation, tropisms and a few branches as reminders of nature, brings Danish dance a long step further forward.”
Charlotte Christensen (Information, 3rd May 1999)
Singular courage.
”Does this take place before my eyes? you ask yourself - or inside my head? How much of it do I imagine myself? Once again it seems to me that A.C. only hints at his menacing attack on the audience, leaving it up to the audience to complete it. A richness of simplicity blossoms and makes it intelligible - without trivializing the clear and touching language of the dance.”
Janus Kodal (Ekstra Bladet, 1st May 1999)
”In Anders Christiansen's universe beauty exists despite preconceptions about its expression. It is weird and askew, forced onto the floor, with which the body unites itself in the most plastic moments of his choreography, but it is also an expression of a thin-skinned vulnerability which projects lyrical tones in the airy patterns of the arms.
...Anders Christiansen's personal aesthetic yet again shows itself extremely capacious, even if its nature is to be cut to the bone.”
Ebbe Mørk (Politiken, 1st May 1999)
Venues:
Entré Scenen, Århus, 27-28 September 2001.
Dansedage 99 / MBT-Scenen, Århus, 1-2 June 1999.
Teaterhuset, Odense, 28 May 1999.
Kanonhallen, Copenhagen, 29 April - 14 May 1999.
La Caldera, Barcelona, February 1999 (work in progress).
En stor hvid hund was produced with support from The Danish Arts Council, Augustinus Fonden, Dansk Skuespillerforbunds blankbåndsmidler.
Photographs: Stuart McIntyre
1-2 Anders Christiansen, Minna Weurlander
3-4 Anders Christiansen
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