One of Europe’s most daring and exciting choreographers, Boris Charmatz opened his newest work at MIF17. For this highly ambitious piece, staged in an atmospheric space in central Manchester, a 25-strong ensemble of dancers performed, in succession, 10000 Gestures – none repeated, every one unique. At once joyous and melancholy, ephemeral and unforgettable, 10000 Gestures reinvented the language of dance in thrilling fashion.

Boris Charmatz is widely celebrated for his experimental approach to contemporary dance. Since 2009, Charmatz has been the director of the Rennes & Brittany National Choreographic Centre, transforming it into the cutting-edge Museum of Dance (Musée de la danse). He has recently presented work to great acclaim at Sadler’s Wells, Tate Modern and New York’s Museum of Modern Art. This pre-premiere of 10000 Gestures marked the first ever staging of his work in Manchester.

Co-commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Musée de la Danse, Volksbühne Berlin, Théâtre National de Bretagne, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Chaillot – Théâtre National de la Danse, Wiener Festwochen, Sadler’s Wells, Taipei Performing Arts Center.

Boris Charmatz Choreography

Salka Ardal Rosengren, Or Avishay, Régis Badel, Jessica Batut, Nadia Beugré, Alina Bilokon, Nuno Bizarro, Matthieu Burner, Dimitri Chamblas, Julie Cunningham, Olga Dukhovnaya, Sidonie Duret, Bryana Fritz, Kerem Gelebek, Rémy Héritier, Samuel Lefeuvre, Johanna-Elisa Lemke, Noé Pellencin, Maud Le Pladec, Mani Mungai, Jolie Ngemi, Djino Sabin, Marlène Saldana, Julian Weber, Frank Willens Interpretation

Magali Caillet-Gajan Assistant

Yves Godin Lighting Designer

Jean-Paul Lespagnard  Costume Designer

Fabrice Le Fur General Stage Manager

Marion Régnier Dresser

Sandra Neuveut, Martina Hochmuth, Amélie-Anne Chapelain Production and Direction

Curated for MIF by Matthias von Hartz