eau3

eau

Carolyn Carlson Joby Talbot Alain Fleischer

A masterpiece by Carolyn Carlson that met with success at its premiere at Lille Opera in April 2008, eau (water) is being danced again this season at Le Colisée. The ‘water lady' choreographer dances with all the fluidity, evanescence and sculptural qualities of water. A creative and a destructive force, it gushes, slides, waves and crystallises, continually reinventing its shape.

The theme of water is dear to Carolyn Carlson and crops up in many of her works, such as Still Waters, Writings on Water and Water Born. This time set to original music by Joby Talbot, the piece immerses into enveloping maternal waters, melancholic dreams, threatening pollution and violent seas. Mysterious and ambiguous, its cloudy reflections let the mind float towards buried thoughts and emotions. Sadness dissolves in it and water becomes tears, eliminating the salt of bitterness - an inseparable part of appreciating happiness. A fundamental element of life, it carries sensuality, desire and purity, sweeping the dancers along with unusual beauty. Alain Fleischer's watery mirrors let the world gaze at its own reflection and make water the eyes of the earth.

choreography
Carolyn Carlson, with the assistance of the dancers

performers
Amina Amici, Chinatsu Kosakatani, Isida Micani, Chiara Michelini, Sara Orselli, Sonia Rocha, Jacky Berger, Flavien Bernezet, Yoann Boyer, Alan Brooks, Yutaka Nakata, Riccardo Meneghini

second cast
Cristina Santucci, Guilhem Rouillon

original music
Joby Talbot

images and stage design
Alain Fleischer

lighting
Alain Fleischer and Freddy Bonneau

painting
Philippe Tallis

costumes

Chrystel Zingiro, Manue Piat, Ta-Jung Lina Wu

texts
Carolyn Carlson and Alan Brooks

text said by
Alan Brooks, Amina Amici

text screened
Jean Pierre Siméon

choreographic assistants
Valentina Romito and Henri Mayet

artistic advisor
Alessandra Vigna and Claire de Zorzi

musical advisor
Gill Graham for Chester Music Ltd

technical director
Robert Pereira

production
National Choreographic Centre Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais, Lille Opera, Lille National Orchestra, Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council (Conseil Régional), Le Colisée-Théâtre de Roubaix

supported by
Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative

in association with
Le Fresnoy, National Studio of Contemporary Arts

premiered on 2 April 2008 in Lille