In the realm of dance, where each step is a fleeting moment, we invite you to embark on a journey that reimagines the beauty of both beginnings and endings. What if, in our choreographic exploration, we intentionally commence with the act of concluding? "The End of Things" embarks on a deconstructive odyssey, challenging the way we perceive these inevitable transitions—the lingering void, the encompassing emptiness, the subtle shift, and the seamless continuation that ensues. This work invites you to contemplate the potential significance of these moments.

Our choreographic concept revolves around dance quotes mixed with fictitious repertoire of dance pieces—a collection of endings deliberately stripped of their ostensibly nonexistent beginnings and the anticipated uninterrupted sequences. We remove these endings from their familiar contexts, redefining their significance and inviting you to perceive them as standalone artistic revelations. This peculiar approach beckons our audience to actively engage their imagination, encouraging them to become co-creators of untold narratives, fashioning their interpretations of how each dance might have initiated.

As you witness this intriguing catalog of endings unfold, consider it an ode to the finale, celebrated for what it truly represents—an end. But delving deeper, we explore a profound concept—an analogy to nature's intricate cycle. This choreographic proposition contemplates the idea of composting, mirroring the natural world, where the decay of one entity nurtures the birth of something new and yet to be realized. It invites contemplation of the beauty in allowing things to gracefully wither.

Furthermore, envision these endings juxtaposed, merged, and mixed. They transform into echoes of their past selves and something entirely new, akin to an unending stream of potentialities. These ends, now de-contextualized and collided, serve as the building blocks of our narrative. This work is an exploration of how the old blends with the new, in a constant state of evolution and reinvention.

In essence, "The Ends of Things;The Things of Ends" encourages us to reflect on the essence of creation and transformation. It challenges us to consider how to innovate from the legacy of the past, how everything created is constantly fleeting away, morphing while dying and what it means to embark on a journey with the understanding that there are no beginnings and no predetermined endpoints. This performance serves as a testament to the enduring power of dance, the limitless potential of the art of movement making, and the perpetual cycle of evolution that defines our existence.

There is an incredible amount of simultaneity, a constant driving and being driven (...). Everything is very much in motion, the curtain goes up and down again and again, there are lots of vertical movements and many, many levels in the music. I think it's a very successful metaphor for the question of what remains of what passes..
Deutschlandfunk Kultur

Premiere: 24 April 2024, Theater Basel, Switzerland

Further dates: 28 April, 3 / 5 / 9 / 11 / 17 / 25 May, 3 / 12 June 2024

Credits:
Concept, choreography and stage: Fabrice Mazliah
Sound composition: Johannes Helberger
Dance and performance: Feiza Bessard, Yaëlle Chassin, Caelyn Jean Knight, Dayne Florence, David Lagerqvist, Stefanie Pechtl, Anthony Ramiandrisoa, Rachelle Scott, Ekaterina Shushakova, Oleg Stepanov, Sophie Vergères, Andrea Tortosa Vidal, Jin Young Won, Ophelia Young
Instrumental composition, arrangement: Friedemann Treiber
Musical Performance: Ensemble Aventure, Friedemann Treiber (v), Ellen Fallowfield (c), Akiko Okabe
Light design: Matthias Rieker
Costume: Romy Springsguth
Dramaturgy: Anne Kersting, Elizabeth Waterhouse
Choreographic assistance, rehearsal management: Jonathan Earl Fredrickson