Anne-Charlotte PasseraVanishing Melodies is Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal’s new show that will be unveiled to the public in the fall of 2021. It will be a good way to warm our feet after switching from our flip-flops to rain boots or even winter boots.
I think it’s perfect timing, don’t you?
To mark the 50th anniversary, director Éric Jean is proposing a new show based on the same principle as Dance Me.
Dance Me was a 2019 show inspired by the works of Leonard Cohen. The work was a first meeting between dance, music and theater.
This time, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal continues this mix of disciplines with Vanishing Melodies. This work is enchanted and enveloped by the music of poet-musician Patrick Watson. Have you heard of him?
Before attending the online conference of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal for the unveiling of their new show, I had not heard of Patrick Watson who has nothing to do with Dr. Watson I can confirm.
So it is on my sunny terrace, in shorts, sipping a fresh rosé and listening to Patrick Watson’s repertoire that I unveil to you Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal’s new show: Vanishing Melodies.
In addition to creating a contemporary ballet on existing music, an actress will join the troupe of 14 dancers. Louise Cardinal and Brigitte Saint-Aubin will share the spotlight.
Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal – Their History
Since 1972, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal has been the greatest ambassador of Quebec dance in the world. 50 years in numbers is :
- 600 shows in 68 countries.
- 3 million spectators.
Always in search of innovation, the artistic direction decided to integrate other artistic disciplines into their shows. Their ballets have taken on theater, video, and even music. It is on this path that Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal presents their latest show.
The creative process of Vanishing Melodies
The first discussion took place in November 2020, even though Éric Jean was already working on this project during the summer of 2020.
He met with the dancers, including some from Dance Me, as well as the choreographers.
It is Éric Jean who went through the existing repertoire of Patrick Watson. There will be no new compositions for this show. About twenty songs/music have been selected by Éric Jean. Well, he did tell Patrick Watson about his project and asked his permission. Only one of the songs was replaced at Mr. Watson’s suggestion and don’t ask me which one.
“I asked If I could dance in it, they said no!”
patrick watson
Patrick Watson is very happy that his repertoire will be put in a different light and is looking forward to the show.
In terms of choreography, it’s more of a personal choice according to Eric Jean.
The choreographers behind the show
Anne Plamondon and Juliano Lunes are the brains behind the visual aspect of the ballet.
Each choreographer brings his own personal signature. So there will be a meeting of two (different) sensual and poetic worlds that will intersect on stage. Beware of sparks!
For the moment, the choreographers have done their work each on their own. In the end, it will be two creators who meet between the lines.
With a composer, there is a conversation throughout the creation.
anne plamondon
The process of creating choreography to existing music is completely different than working with a composer.
In this case, they have to use the songs to talk about Brigitte’s story. The challenge is not the same, but just as exciting. The choreographers, as well as the dancers, learn to adapt, to understand, to inquire. Moreover, the dancers have developed their own energy and evolve with it throughout the process.
According to Juliano Lunes, music with words is honest and beautiful. Each word brings a meaning and a weight that is counterbalanced by the art of dance.
Keep asking questions – that’s how art survives.
juliano lunes
A mood board was created to establish a certain poetic atmosphere among the dancers and the story line behind Vanishing Melodies.
The emotion in all this?
The choreographers promise us an epic proportion of emotions. We start with an emotion that evolves into another. It’s like Russian dolls. Each doll reveals another.
The emotional experience will be different for each person.
I don’t know if I want to decide what the audience will feel, but I want them to feel something.
anne plamondon
A sense of ephemerality and mystery will certainly be at the heart of the ballet through movements of contrasting dynamics between tension and abandonment. The dancers will let their instincts guide them through these movements to convey their own emotions.
In the end, it will be up to the audience to receive this emotion.
Vanishing Melodies – Synopsis
This is the story of a woman (played by the actress) who extracts herself from a part of her life while waiting for the bus alone. Memories wash over her like a wave, but little by little her memory crumbles…
Through an array of atmospheric music and a collective work of dance, theater, and music, Vanishing Melodies offers us an organic show.
If all goes well, Les Ballets Jazz Montréal’s show will tour the world.
- Tickets on sale May 20th, 2021, starting at $59. Book your tickets HERE.
- Performance dates: November 2 to 6, 2021
- Location: Théatre Maisonneuve, Montreal
- Running time: 1h15
We can’t wait to go, how about you?
