Animal – Dance with the living by Théâtre du Centaure is the meeting of two worlds: Kaori Ito’s choreographic universe and Manolo’s quest to become a Centaur. An extraordinary fusion of dancers, musicians and four powerful, mysterious, quirky black horses.

Since childhood, Manolo, founder of the Marseille-based Théâtre du Centaure, has had the dream of becoming one with a horse; existing together in symbiosis with the animal and nature. Becoming a Centaur. In Animal – Dance with the Living, it has come true. Choreographer Kaori Ito has succeeded in bringing out the animal in him. On the barren playing surface, Manolo is together with four horses. The show was written in harmony with these horses, thanks to a long process of creation and observation that took several months. Far from acrobatics and the spectacular, this performance is a dialogue between man and horse. The powerful movements of the animal are continued as one in the bodies of the two dancers. The natural spontaneity of these animals feeds the creativity of the performers. “Horses are extremely sensitive, much more instinctive than we are. Our lives are largely determined by codes anyway,” explains dancer Léonore Zurflüh. This performance is a way to “reveal the part of animality hidden in our bodies. The primitive roots that have been forgotten by humanity over the centuries,” adds choreographer Kaori Ito. She sees this search for symbiosis as part of a broader issue, that of “learning to live in harmony with living things,” at a time when nature is increasingly threatened.

Two musicians from completely different worlds accompany the performance Anwar Khan sings and plays tabla, vocals and traditional Indian harmonium. Composer Virgile Abela plays electric guitar. Together they evoke a new, animalistic world filled with the breath of horses and the pounding of their hooves.

Credits

Artistic direction Kaori Ito & Manolo
Choreography Kaori Ito
Assistant choreographer Louis Gillard

Artists and musicians Manolo, Léonore Zurflüh, Johanna Houé, Camille Kaczmarek, Virgile Abela and Anwar Khan.
Horses Idra, Sahadeva, Nakula, Spanish stallions – Arjuna Arabian stallion

Light creation Anais Silmar and Olivier Guerbois
Musical composition and stage music Virgile Abela et Anwar Khan
Technical managers Sylvain Vassas Cherel, Nancy Drolet, Manu Buttler, Thomas Hennequin
Sound engineer Philippe Boinon, Vincent Pierre Louis
Lighting technician Anais Silmar
Care of the horses on tour Camille Kaczmarek and Johanna Houé

Creative support Archaos, Pôle National des Arts du Cirque Méditerranée, Le Grand R, scene nationale La Roche-sur-Yon, Château Rouge, scene conventionnée d’Annemasse, Le Haras national d’Hennebont, pôle de création des arts équestres, Le Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS Paris, La Communauté d’Agglomération Mont-Saint-Michel Normandie, Cultura Nova Heerlen (Pays-Bas).

With the collaboration of Haras de La Vendée, Lycée Agricole de Contamine sur Arve, MC2 Grenoble – Maison de la Culture, Théâtre Quai 9, Lanester.

Support Aide nationale à la création arts du cirque, DGCA, Ministère de la Culture 2022, The Théâtre du Centaure is subsidized by the City of Marseille and the DRAC Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It is supported by the Département des Bouches-du-Rhône, the Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Cô