Press Reviews

With generosity, Philippe Tréhet invites the public to share in the intimacy of these creations, which, through a controlled dance technique and choreographic writing, are aimed at the awakening of the emotions. "Quatre Etages"* is a program composed of four short pieces about worlds initially greatly different. They do however have a common interest in the exasperation, the internal, external and intimate notions, the idea between boundaries, "the inside" and "the outside". They are shown together, each one in his own way, in the same, always changing, intimate space. The dance develops through a series of questions, aroused by social relationships which intertwine - which play - between the protagonists, in connection with their spiritual and religious beliefs, while the surrounding matter differentiates itself, mineral or organic. "Quatre Etages" is a project, specifically designed for small theatrical spaces, but although space is restricted, it musn’t lessen the depth of the feelings. It is about nature and its immensity that the dance obviously revolves around at the end of the program, making sure of its deep rootedness and displaying the simple beauty of a minimalist writing, travelling between realism and poetry. Four short pieces, born out of the desire to perform in the smaller theatres - more and more of which are opting for dance programming in their attempt to educate and build up a following public. Their proposed innovative course is a path accessible to contemporary forms and sensitive to movement and emotion. * Four Floors A World Premiere The new creation of the Galet Gris As with his last creation, “Hom E”, Philippe Tréhet has chosen as the set of his new choreography, a house, whose “Quatre Etages”* constitute a closed field for complex human relationships and upheaval. In his new creation, Philippe Tréhet invites the spectators to visit in succession the four floors of a house, from the ground level to the top floor, a surrounding that he uses to set the scene for a place of social relationships. The eight dancers of the company of the Galet Gris invite the faithful public of the company and new comers to contemporary dance, to climb up the successive floors (it goes without saying, in the imagination) and discover the mysteries of human nature and the bond that unites the various specimens of humanity. Human Relationships At ground level, the eight dancers express the relationship between human beings and the elements of nature : water, air, earth, using broad movements and playing with the weight of their bodies. They make way for two couples (firstly two men, then a man and a woman) showing the situation of a distraught individual to whom another character (an angel?) comes, to bring his support, figuratively and literally (by carrying him, resting him on his shoulder, taking him in his arms...). This close contact gives rise to statuesque compositions and movements of remarkable precision and richness. The eight dancers find their way to the final scene, which consists of a kind of ritual where life bursts forth. In front of their acquaintances, sitting on chairs and sofas, the characters go in search of one another, confronting each other in a private space which permits them to materialise their relationships by means of dance. There is the opportunity to see dazzling duets in which the dancers first mistrust, then merge in the embrace of a grand sensuality. Message of Hope A fascinating work, which finishes with a message of hope and shows that one must never be driven to despair by human nature. The public rightly appreciated the dance performance, co-produced by the Theatre of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a success which was largely due to the brilliant execution of a partially renewed company, chosen from diverse horizons (the Brazilian Sergio Cruz, the Spaniard David Rodrigo Balsalobre, the Venezuelan Willyo Rodriguez, the Israeli Naama Crystal, the Australian Suzanne Holden and the French Dorian Crétey, Nadia Debuf and Florence Issembourg). The warm reception that was given by the public, promises much success for this choreographic creation from Le Havre. The company will be presenting the work in various theatres in the Ile-de-France (Saint-Quentin, Versailles, Rambouillet…) and the Loire-Atlantique, to name a few. Bernard Perrot Paris-Normandie 26 February 2003 Dance for all the Public To introduce dance into the urban community - to make it accessible for everyone : such is the aim of Temps Danse 78. An event in the district of Yvelines that encourages choreographic creation but which is also aimed at sensitising the existing dance public as well as creating a future one. Temps Danse 78 is part of a rare initiative, which comes in response to the need of active educational methods, capable of filling a gap often felt in this domain. Immense work indeed, managed well by the National Theatre of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines together with the Department of the General Counsel. Without forgetting Philippe Tréhet, a regular during “Journey-Discovery”, making this his third meeting with the people of Yvelines; student or adult, novice or professional. Thus as a preamble to the premiere of his new creation, the choreographer and his company are offering a series of workshops, courses, open rehearsals and discussions which will take place on and off stage in four participating theatres: l’Espace Maurice Béjart in Verneuil-sur-Sein, the Nickel in Rambouillet, the Montansier Theatre in Versailles and the Theatre of Villepreux. The cultural centres who partake in the dance event may not have a lot of experience in dance programming, but certainly, all the doors are open. Dance on all the floors Temps Danse 78 has found the ideal accomplice in Philippe Tréhet. Associate artist of the Theatre of Saint-Quentin for three seasons and rich from his experience in Le Havre where he has been established for a long time, Tréhet has clearly chosen the path of the artist involved in the community. He livens up the “Yvelinoise” adventure with a rare availability and generosity. Not only did he divulge the keys to his thought process during “Journey”, but he also agreed to share with us, the intimacy of his creation during the delicate period of the gestation of the performance. This year he constructs a choreographic building of “Quatre Etages”*, four worlds similar, but radically different, that the audience is invited to discover. A guided visit, widening the horizons for everyone. Maria-Daniella Strouthou La Terrasse - March 2003