After postponing her arrival to the city of Barcelona twice due to Covid, Catherine Gaudet has arrived to show two of her works. The place chosen for the presentation of one of Canada’s most influential choreographers is the Mercat de les Flors, a space where The Pretty Things and Se Dissoudre can be seen on October 20, 21 and 22.
Se Dissoudre is a solo creation made in 2021 in times of Covid that reflects on time. The performance by the dancer Marie-Philippe Santerre will be in the Pina Bausch room at the Mercat de les Flors. The piece created by Catherine Gaudet, which debuted in 2004 and has since captivated critics thanks to her work, presents the perception of time as an imaginary phenomenon, inspired by times of confinement during the pandemic. The contrasts and repetitions of the choreography reflect the times of loneliness and when everything is put on hold, as happened during the quarantines. The work generates that “through repetition, the body itself transforms the movements resulting from fatigue and muscular tension,” says Catherine Gaudet.
The second work that Catherine Gaudet presents during her time in Barcelona is The Pretty Things. Unlike Se Dissoudre, The Pretty Things arises from the sensations that emerge after the pandemic. For this reason, the piece captures the transformation of emotions in body movements. “We arrive at the end of Covid and there comes a feeling of euphoria and a return to dancing,” says Gaudet. This piece, performed by 5 dancers, gives the sensation of being a work of minimalist movements and repetition of body gestures, but as it progresses, the movements lose control, becoming cathartic and causing “a hypnotic state” in the audience.
These works can be seen between October 20 and 22. The presentation of The Pretty Things is scheduled for October 20 and 21 in the MAC room at the Mercat de les Flors, while Se Dissoudre will take place on Sunday, October 22, in the PB room.