da:ns 2019 :: 'Grand Finale'

I was determined to make time to watch Hofesh Shechter Company's 'Grand Finale'. I cleared the calendar for it and declined an unwelcomed dinner that was scheduled at the last minute. I would never miss a performance this good, and what more a dance piece that feeds my soul. It first premiered in Paris in 2017, and I was thrilled to have the chance to front row seats to this performance at Esplanade's da:ns festival 2019.

Choreographed by Hofesh Shechter (only my favorite contemporary choreographer ever), even the music is scored by him, aided by musician and score transcriber Chris Allan. I love contemporary dance pieces that are accompanied by a live band. Hofesh Shechter's pieces aren't always set to a live band, it has been a loooong while since 'Political Mother'. It isn't a rock band this round. It's a five-piece with a violin and a cello.

In the program note written by writer and editor Sarah Crompton (and author of 'Sadler's Wells—Dance House' published in 2013), she noted,

Shechter also wanted to explore the way in which society itself is responding to crisis. "Everybody's an observer these days," he says. "None of us feel personally responsible, even though all of us are equally responsible. It's a funny place we're in." 

The title of this piece, with its references to the flourishes of classical ballet, underlines its mix of deep seriousness and playfulness. "I like that it's clashing with what is essentially quite a dark work," he says. "It's a title I've wanted to use for a few years and I thought I had better use it while I was still young. To me, it's very funny."

Again, as expected of many Hofesh Shechter dance performances, this dance blew me away. As usual, the dancers are excellent, and the movements carry the signature strength and pure fire of the dance company. The choreography is exactly what I expected of the ticket and the name. Well, I'm biased. Heh. I left the theatre joyful and pensive at the same time. Do we sink or do we live? Are we powerless in this world or are we wielding power over how the future generations will live? Over two acts with a 20-minute intermission, ten dancers and five musicians created an apocalyptic world, control amongst chaos. This genre of dance calls out to me, and Hofesh Shechter is one of the finest visionaries who could put together raw energy, classical lines and politics into one dance piece.

"Many times, people want to know what I meant in a particular dance piece," says Hofesh Shechter, thoughtfully. "And I think it doesn't really matter. What matters is what happens on stage, then if something happens to the audience when they watch it. Or not."