Stoic

“It’s very beautiful.”

Alba

“The dancers are amazing.”

Sveriges Radio Kulturnytt i P1

“A complete experience that leaves a lasting impression"

Göteborgs-Posten

“So damn brilliant that it makes you weak at the knees”

Borås Tidning

About Stoic

The awards just keep coming for the Belgian-Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. He’s been awarded Chroeographer of the Year by Tanz three times, is nominated for Faust 2018 and in November, he’ll receive the European Prize New Theatrical Realities on what is commonly known as the Oscar Academy Awards Gala of European Performing Arts. This fall, he was also nominated for the MTV Music Awards for the choreography for Beyoncé’s/The Carters’ video "Apeshit". Meanwhile, dance companies all around the world invite him to create new pieces exclusively for them. He’s now writing the third chapter in the collaboration with GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, which began with the airy Noetic (2014) and the earthy Icon (2016).

In a vast library, where time seems to have frozen, life goes on in the deluded assumption that nothing will ever change. People come here to find some quiet, or to live their decadent lives. They are self-absorbed, seeking constant recognition, and they fill their lives with things and addictions in the pursuit of inner peace. But most of all, they yearn to be understood. Nobody listens to anyone else when everyone is busy trying to present themselves in the best way.

The monochrome grey library, an iconic work of art by the Belgian visual artist Hans Op de Beeck, is a counterweight to the people’s anxiety and eagerness. It’s neutral, does not behave or respond; it’s stoic. A still life; a frozen moment with time for reflection. There is scope for seeking what may heal. The music plays a key role in this quest.

Arabic vocals, Congolese music and Japanese percussion are interwoven by composer Felix Buxton of the electronic duo Basement Jaxx, to create the innovative and universal whole that is the hallmark of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

”We’re in a time when openness is shrinking and borders are closing. If anything, my dream is that people will dare to connect with one another again. Sure it goes with burning your fingers – not every single being is a nice person – but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way to go. In fact it’s the right way to go. To never stop being curious about, believing or trusting in other people. Stoic is trying to break those boundaries again.”
— Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Information

Choreography & composer – Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Set and costume design – Hans Op de Beeck
Musical director – Felix Buxton
Lighting design – David Stokholm
Choreography assistant – Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern

Musicians

Vocals, guitar – Kaspy N'dia
Vocals, percussion – Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini
Violin, viola, sound effects – Samy Bishai
Piano, guitar, percussion – Gabriele Miracle
Piano, koto, drums – Tsubasa Hori

Vocal coach – Anna Sato

Information

Dancers: 14 from GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, 5 from Eastman
Running time – 75 min

Stoic is a co-production with Eastman. Created in collaboration with the dancers from GöteborgsOperans Danskompani.

World premiere at The Göteborg Opera, 12 October 2018

Text extracts

Dissociative Identity Disorder, from Youtube, 2008
Daniel Mackler, Why I quit being a therapist, 2018
Symptoms of Schizophrenia, unknown author
Dennis O’Grady, PsyD, 10 introductory questions therapists commonly ask, 2018
Clint Smith, The Danger of Silence, 2014. Text from TED Talks.
Reika Farman, 60 milligram down to 30 million feelings, 2018

Music

1 - “Making Love”
Live vocals by two dancers

2 - “Harmonics of Crickets”

3 - “Artshow”
Live vocals by dancers

4 - “Art Gallery Tango”
Violin - Samy Bishai
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Hand percussion / Tango Shaker - Tsubasa Hori

5 - “Harmonics of Crickets”
Live vocal by dancer

6 - “American Rhino”
Percussion / Crashes - Gabriele Miracle, Tsubasa Hori
Hand clap - Kaspy N’dia
Violin - Samy Bishai

7 - “Harmonics of Crickets”
Live vocals by dancers

8 - “Smoking”
Koto - Tsubasa Hori
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Kora / Vocals - Kaspy N’dia
Vocals - Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini
Violin - Samy Bishai

9 - “Harmonics of Crickets” (Cigarette Bombs)
Koto - Tsubasa Hori
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Violin - Samy Bishai

10 - “Art Gallery Tango (short)”
Violin - Samy Bishai
Piano - Tsubasa Hori
Hand percussion / Tango Shaker - Gabriele Miracle

11 - “Harmonics of Crickets”
Live vocals by dancers
Koto - Tsubasa
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Violin - Samy Bishai

12 - “Saidi”
Vocals/Darbuka - Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini
Guitar/Vocals - Kaspy N’dia
Violin - Samy Bishai
Piano - Gabriele Miracle

13 - “Bass Ape”
Percussion - Gabriele Miracle
Koto - Tsubasa Hori

13.2 - “Kuroda Bushi”
Folksong from Fukuoka
Koto / Vocals - Tsubasa Hori

14 - “Drunk Techno”
Violin - Samy Bishai
Percussion - Gabriele Miracle, Tsubasa Hori
Hand claps / Drunk background wails - Kaspy N’dia

15. Soshu Yakyoku
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Vocals - Tsubasa Hori
Violin - Samy Bishai

16 - “Dinosaur”

17 - “Cocaine”
Percussion - Gabriele Miracle, Tsubasa Hori

18 - “Unarikami” (“Yoisura Bushi”)
Traditional folk song from the Amami islands (Kagoshima prefecture). Song by Kazutomi “Tsuki” Kozuki and Tsubasa Hori, vocal coach Anna Sato
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Violin - Samy Bishai
Koto - Tsubasa Hori

19 - “Books”
Koto - Tsubasa Hori
Kora - Kaspy N’dia
Violin - Samy Bishai
Percussion - Gabriele Miracle

20 - “Shutterclock”
Kora / Vocals - Kaspy N’dia
Percussion - Tsubasa Hori

21 - “Bil Lah Yah”
Vocals - Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini
Violin - Samy Bishai
Percussion - Gabriele Miracle, Tsubasa Hori

22 - “Dum Pater Familias”
Medieval chant from the 12th century from the Codex Calixtinus dedicated to St. Jacob of Compostela
Vocals - Dancers and musicians
Violin - Samy Bishai

23 - “Moments of Wonder” / “Soshu Yakyoku”
Japanese song by Ryoich Hattori, Lyrics by Yaso Saijo
Koto / Vocals - Tsubasa Hori
Piano - Gabriele Miracle

24 - “Le Plat Pays”
Composition: Jacques Brel, Arr. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Kaspy N’dia
Guitar - Kaspy N’dia
Vocals - Dancers and musicians

25 - “Floating to the Creator”
Violin - Samy Bishai
Piano - Gabriele Miracle
Koto - Tsubasa Hori
Vocals - Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini