Like many, I am speechless in the wake of this week’s terror attacks in Belgium and so turn for comfort to the wordlessness and beauty of dance and the arts in general. And while the loss extends far beyond the confines of this small, vital, and complex country, in tribute I wanted to feature the work of a Belgian choreographer.
As such I found genesis, by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
More covered on stage for documentation – not strictly for camera as a dance film – and with a score that to my ears borders on being over the top, in the context of the week’s sobering events, it is nevertheless very moving work. And as per the YouTube notes: “We are born and then we die, and in the meantime we undergo constant testing and increasing estrangement from the natural world,” I find that genesis is also incredibly relevant.
Go in peace.
Founder/Director of Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival, Sarah Elgart is a Los Angeles based choreographer and director working under the auspice of Sarah Elgart | Arrogant Elbow. Sarah creates original content for stage, screen, and site-specific venues. Her stage and site-works have been performed at alternative spaces including LAX Airport, The Skirball Center, Mark Taper Forum, Van Nuys Flyaway, The Bradbury Building, Jacob’s Pillow, INSITU Site-Specific Festival NY, and Loft Seven, where she created a rooftop work lit entirely by a hovering helicopter accompanied by Nels Cline (Wilco). Her work has been produced by venues including The Music Center, MASS MoCA, Dance Place, Los Angeles Theater Center, Mark Taper Forum and The International Women’s Theater Festival. In film Sarah has worked with noted directors including JJ Abrams, David Lynch, Catherine Hardwicke, and Anton Corbijn. Her own films include award-winning music videos, dance shorts, and an Emmy nominated PSA, and continue to be accepted into festivals internationally. In addition to teaching dance and film, Sarah writes a regular column, ScreenDance Diaries that focuses on the intersections of both genres internationally for online magazine Cultural Weekly. Sarah’s work has received support from organizations that include the Rockefeller Foundation, the NEA, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, California Arts Council and more. She is an alumna of the Sundance Institute’s Dance Film Lab, a Fellow of AFI’s Directing Women’s Workshop, and a director member of the DGA.