"Treasured in the Dark" by Thiago Granato

What do we do with the presence of those who are not here anymore?

In reaction to this question, Thiago Granato invited the deceased choreographers Hijikata Tatsumi (Japan/1938-1986)* and Lennie Dale (USA-Brazil/1934-1994)** to collaborate in a fictional choreographic dialogue using Granato’s body as medium of communication. By doing so, Granato allowed his imagination to capture certain signs from his own environment through which an immaterial presence of these legendary artists could be detected. The result of this transcommunication is a choreography made of a series of mutating scenes, connected by abrupt transformations that trigger a metamorphic relationship between different corporalities like ambiguous sounds, floating objects, lit shadows, anonymous presences… 

“Treasured in the Dark” is the first solo in a trilogy that is part of the project choreoversations. The project proposes a choreographic research based on different imaginary collaborations between dead and living choreographers, as well as those not yet born.

*Japanese dancer, choreographer and actor co-founder of the Butoh Dance.
**North american singer, dancer and choreographer co-founder of the brazilian queer dance and theater group "Dzi Croquettes". 

Thiago Granato is a Brazillian choreographer and performer based in Berlin. His work has been presented in countries as Brazil, Israel, Spain, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Holland, France, Italy and Norway. He also was mentor in the Bachelor of Arts Dance, Context, Choreography programme at HZT/UDK (Berlin, Germany, 2013). During 2013 and 2014 he was selected to be fellow at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart (Germany) where he is researching his new choreographic project, Choreoversations.
www.thiagogranato.com

Credits:
Concept, direction and performance: Thiago Granato.
"Invited" choreobraphers: Hijikata Tatsumi e Lennie Dale.
Direction Assistance: Sandro Amaral.
Sound designer: Gerald Kurdian.
Light designer: Jan Fedinger.
Artistic adviser: Carolina Mendonça e Lou Forster.
Costume adviser: Marion Montel.
Production: Thiago Granato e Sandro Amaral.
Duration: approx. 50 min.
Contact: granato.t(at)gmail.com
Website: www.thiagogranato.com
Thanks: Renan Martins de Oliveira, Christophe Wavelet, Fabrícia Martins, Cristian Duarte, Jonnatha Fortes, Jefta van Dinther, Fernanda Raquel, Stephen Barber, Adiu Bastos, Larry Vickers and Fabiano Amaral.
Co-production: LE CND - Un centre d'art pour la danse, Pantin (França).

Support and residencies: JES - Junges Ensemble Stuttgart (Germany); CCN - Centre Choréographique National de Montpellier (France); Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers (France); FID - Fórum Internacional de Dança - Belo Horizonte (Brazil); Akademie Schloss Solitude - Stuttgart (Germany); WASP (Working Art Space & Production) - Bucareste (Romania); 4Culture; Life Long Burning; BUDA Arts Centre - Kortrijk (Belgium).

“Lauréat du programme de résidences internationales Ville de Paris / Institut Français aux Récollets” - Paris (France).

This work was created in several working processes and residencies, among others in a Wild Card residency in Bucharest 2014.