New Work from Stichting van de Toekomst

Dance Europe, Issue no 9, 1997
by Geoffrey West

If the 1994 WONDERFUL WORLD was in part a joyful response to the fact of giving birth at age 42 - a humorous take on courting rituals and the joy of consummated relationships- FRIENDS returns to the territory of angst and rage against the fates, that has previously surfaced in Bronkhorst's work. Seven men enter an empty space, bordered only by a partly obliterated billboard saying "Please, pay attention Please". It seems as if this is a party, and the aggressive side of male behaviour quickly surfaces; jocular badinage, horseplay, mock flagellation and eventually violent attacks to the genital region of one supine man. This initial display of erupting testosterone very much establishes the territory of male to male behaviour, but it also becomes clear as the work progresses that this is an exhibition of expected behaviour, whereas when the men begin to feel comfortable around each other, gentler aspects of their natures come to the fore, insights onto hidden aspects of the male psyche. Bronkhorst and Jongewaard do not present a completed scenario, what they skilfully conjure up is an emotional terrain of encounters, some predatory, some amorous, some exhibitionist - the two guys who apply lipstick and provocatively strut their stuff for one another.

In dance terms we go from ripples of Euro-crash, through Cunningham to hints of neo-classical ballet, beautifully etched in solos, duets, and full ensemble sequences, and always with movement that seems to evolve from whatever music is forging the emotional atmosphere of the moment, be it Prince, Gavin Bryars or Mahler. That a gay theme eventually emerges from this all male piece seems somehow inevitable, and the final section with black balloons ascending on strings from the dancers wrists takes on an intensely poignant air, in the light of so many men of this generation lost to AIDS in the prime of life. That so much can be encompassed in ninety minutes, so many emotions touched on, is a tribute to the innate integrity of Bronkhorst and Jongewaard's creative talent, and the splendid ensemble of dancers they have managed to assemble.

[ terug naar Truus Bronkhorst, Marien Jongewaard and Friends ]