An exploration of human roots through the prism of the four natural elements.
- CHOREOGRAPHY BY SANDIE DONZICA
- MUSIC AND LYRICS BY FRANÇOIS MINAUX
- DAVID DEMARIS, keyboard and mixing
- PASCAL MINAUX, field recordings and mixing
- Performed at the VORTEX in Austin, TX on February 2, March 2, April 13 and May 11, 2019.
les éléments is based on the four natural elements: Wind-Water-Fire-Earth. This piece is a direct progression from our first work (UN)ROOTED. As we explored our roots as individual facing the society in (UN)ROOTED, les éléments offers an introspection into human root’s as a species. Where do we come from? How can we trace our human identity in each of the four natural elements? Each movement focus on one natural element and try to define how human kind was shaped by each of them.
The sounds used for les éléments are mostly acoustic based. Aside from acoustic instruments and synth instruments, some sounds are processed field recordings. They come from Pascal Minaux’s library of sounds, recorded indoors and outdoors. These sounds have been samplerized in order to be to harmonize them and compose music based on them.
In les éléments, the performers continue to explore further their ability to create a piece as multidisciplinary artists. They are not only prompt into an emotional conversation but continue their exploration of cross-genre performance. Therefore, musicians are engaged in choreographic elements and dancers are engaged in the sonic arrangement of the piece.
Corps Multiple‘s choreographic works often offer an immersive experience as the audience space is frequently crossed by the performers. In les éléments, they were able to go further by having the performers interact with the audience, making it their first audience participative work.
Photography by Errich Petersen for the 9th Annual Garden Party at The VORTEX
Corps Multiple is now furthering the work of les éléments, started during the company’s performance residency at The VORTEX in 2019, and is now planning on making it a full production. The creation process for the full production officially started in France during the company’s residency at Studio Antipodes in Nice, resulting in the creation of the core piece of the upcoming show, the solo Celebration of the Molt, danced by Sandie Donzica. This solo, exploring the metamorphosis of the human being going back to her original form, premiered in France in November 2019 and premiered in the US in December 2019.
Photography by Frederic Pasquini, Uli Garcia and Sam Wilkinson
Corps Multiple 