Hofesh Shechter Company London, UK

Sun

Choreography, music: Hofesh Shechter
Sets design: Merle Hensel
Costume design: Christina Cunningham
Lighting design: Lee Curran
Additional music: ‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance’, composed by Irving Berlin, published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd / Tannhauser WWV 70’ by Wagner – Arrival of the Guests at Wartburg, composer: Richard Wagner/‘Sigur 1’, written by Sveinsson/Birgisson/Holm/Dyrason, published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd., ‘Abide with me’, (traditional arrangement by David Cresswell), published by Music Masters Ltd., erformed by The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars and used by courtesy of Music Masters Ltd.
Musicians on soundtrack: Christopher Allan, Rebekah Allan, Nell Catchpole, Joseph Ashwin, Joel Harries, Vinz
Scenic artist: Kirsty Glover
Puppet artists: Businessman, Hoodsman, Tribesman, Explorer – James Ward at jimbobart, with additional work on Tribesman by Rebecca Cusack /Sheep on loan from John I Gordon  / Wolf courtesy of Framestore
Photo: Gabriele Zucca

Dancers: Paula Alonso Gomez, Chien-Ming Chang, Frederic Despierrre, Neus Gil Cortes, Bruno Guillore, Yeji Kim, Merel Lammers, Attila Ronai, Hannah Shepherd, Diogo Sousa.
Apprentice dancers: Madeleine Fairminer, Clara Villalba

duration: 70’
premiere: 2013, Melbourne

“Sun” is produced by Hofesh Shechter Company and commissioned by Bruno Wang.  “Sun”is supported by The Columbia Foundation fund of the London Community Foundation.  “Sun” is co-commissioned by Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, Sadler’s Wells London, Melbourne Festival, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Théâtre de la Ville - Paris, Festspielhaus St Pölten, Berliner Festspiele - Foreign Affairs, Roma Europa, Belgrade Dance Festival, with co-production support from Mercat de les Flors and the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Perfection becomes warped and harmony gives way to a visceral depiction of antagonism and violence in Shechter's disruptive new work. From the courtly idyll that sets the scene to the clean, spare vision of a ‘perfect’ world, Shechter’s choreography embraces frenetic abandon and his signature understated intricacy in a work that confronts the pastoral horror of colonialism with a hint of sharp humor.  

Hofesh Shechter is recognised as one of the UK’s most exciting artists and is renowned for composing the musical scores for his dance creations with his raw, atmospheric music complimenting his Company’s unique physicality. Shechter graduated from the Jerusalem Academy for Dance and Music before moving to Tel Aviv to join the world renowned Batsheva Dance Company, where he worked with artistic director Ohad Naharin and other choreographers including Wim Vandekeybus, Paul Selwyn-Norton, Tero Saarinen and Inbal Pinto. He began drum and percussion studies whilst in Tel Aviv and continued later in Paris at the Agostiny College of Rhythm. Subsequently, he began experimenting and developing his own music while participating in various projects in Europe involving dance, theatre and body-percussion. In 2002 Shechter arrived in the UK. His choreographic debut, “Fragments”, for which he also created the score, immediately attracted international attention and in 2004 he was commissioned by The Place Prize to create “Cult”. The work was one of five selected finalists and was announced winner of the Audience Choice Award. From 2004 to 2006 Hofesh was Associate Artist at The Place and was commissioned by the Robin Howard Foundation to create “Uprising”. The three works formed the triple bill “deGENERATION”, Hofesh’s first full evening of work. In 2007 London’s three major dance venues, The Place, Southbank Centre and Sadler’s Wells, collaborated on a unique producing venture, commissioning Shechter to create “In your rooms” which was presented at all three venues in 2007 and culminated in sell-out shows at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. “In your rooms” was nominated for a South Bank Show Award and won the Critics’ Circle Award for best choreography in 2008. In 2008, in response to popular demand Shechter formed Hofesh Shechter Company and the Company embarked on its first world tour. Since then the Company can be found performing throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Australia and reaching audiences in many of the world’s leading dance venues.  Recent tours have included South America and the Middle East with the global appetite for Shechter’s work continuing with his later creations. Now under the banner of Hofesh Shechter Company, in 2009 Shechter produced his first The Choreographer’s Cut – commissioned by Sadler’s Wells and performed at The Roundhouse. He reworked his acclaimed double bill “Uprising/In your rooms” to feature a band of 20 musicians alongside a company of 17 dancers. Also in 2009 he was commissioned by Brighton Festival in 2009 to create the “The Art of Not Looking Back”, which was inspired by and made for six female dancers. In May 2010 his first full-length work “Political Mother” premiered at the Brighton Festival, winning 5 star reviews from all the major national press and subsequently embarking on an extensive international tour, further cementing the Company’s reputation. 2011 saw the second time Shechter created a ‘Choreographer’s Cut’ of his work, this time for “Political Mother” – the result was ‘a howling beast of a dance show’ (Metro), featuring over 40 performers and which returns to Sadler’s Wells in July 2013. Shechter collaborated with Antony Gormley on “Survivor” commissioned by the Barbican and reaching sell-out audiences for its run in January 2012. In 2013 Hofesh unveiled his latest major creation, “Sun”, co-produced by partners around the world and touring worldwide. Alongside his work for Hofesh Shechter Company, Hofesh’s works have been taken into the repertory of many UK and international dance companies including Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Carte Blanche Dance Company, Bern Ballett, Scottish Dance Theatre, CandoCo and Nederland DansTheater. He has also worked as a choreographer in theatre, television and opera notably at The Royal Court Theatre for Motortownby Simon Stephens (2006), TheArsonists (2007), and for the National Theatre’s award winning production of Saint Joan (2007) directed by Marianne Elliot and starring Anne Marie Duff. In television Shechter choreographed the hit dance sequence ‘Maxxie’s Dance’ for the opening of the second series of Channel 4’s popular drama Skins. In 2013, he collaborated with Metropolitan Opera in New York on Nicol Mulhy’s opera “Two Boys” and in 2014 he was Guest Director of Brighton Festival. In March 2015, Shechter is starting to create a piece for The Royal Ballet which will premiere at the Royal Opera House, London. Shechter is an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells and Hofesh Shechter Company is Resident Company at Brighton Dome.

Since exploding on to the dance scene with their very first performances, Shechter and his young and talented Dance Company have established themselves as a leading force in the UK contemporary dance. Following a career as a dancer, Shechter moved to the UK making his choreographic debut in 2004. A former drummer in a rock band, Shechter creates the musical scores for each of his dance creations and his atmospheric, groovy music alongside his company’s unique physicality has earned his work acclaim around the world.

He’s still the only dance-maker on earth even attempting shows this eye-poppingly packed with with energy and ambition, and three cheers to him for that.
© The Telegraph

Hofesh Shechter. It’s a name to remember!
© New York Times