As part of the third edition of Bonjour India, Alliance Française of Hyderabad is hosting Weight of Joy, a dance performance choreographed by French dancer Eric Languet. Drawing from the cultures of the two countries (France and India), this work attempts to discover the foundation and conditions for the emergence of joy as an emotion.
The performance, which was designed two months ago, is a collaboration of four Europeans and four Indians, two of whom are hearing impaired. This is not the first time Eric is working on a project integrating a group of differently-abled dancers. He has been working with such groups for the past 14 years. “This is my fifth production with disabled people in the cast,” says Eric. “I first started working with them in 2000, when I met a disabled dancer, David Toole,” he shares, adding that the show is not about disability but a thought-provoking piece of physical theatre.
In a career spanning 30 years, Eric has danced with the Paris Opera Ballet and the Royal New Zealand Ballet, where he was also the resident choreographer. As a teacher, he has developed integrated workshops for differently-abled people in India and abroad, inspired by the works of dancers Adam Benjamin, Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe and Douglas Wright.
As the title suggests, the show explores contradictory ideas of burden and joy through acts and movements. “I find it fascinating that people can find moments of joy even when they are confronted with the worst situations. Sometimes, I wonder where this joy comes from and what is the price to pay. The performance will deal with this question,” Eric says.
Entry free. On February 23.
At Shilpakala Vedika.