CORPUS
Jo Strømgren:
The Society of Lost Souls
June 2, 2017
The A Sal
Royal Theatre
Jo Stømgren´s The Society of Lost Souls will be the last production by CORPUS, as we know it today. From next season CORPUS will be a separate company, but still a part of The Royal Danish Ballet. The major difference will be that CORPUS will have their own group of dancers instead of using members of the RDB ensemble. Soloist Alexander Stæger is the only RDB dancer joining the new CORPUS.
Interestingly, Jo Strømgren's creation focused on the dramatic skills of the RDB ensemble. This is not the first time; the Norwegian choreographer has created for the RDB. In 2005, he took part in a program where Nordic choreographers were invited to create a ballet on the four elements. His work then included elements of the past. The Society of Lost Souls also evoke earlier periods with an effective decor, makeup and costumes.
Dead - but full of life
It is an outstanding work, not because of the choreography, as there is very little of it, but of the story telling and the character acting of the ten RDB dancers, each performing an un-dead person, a kind of ghost, killed - but not dead - creating their own society and longing for peace.
This performance is never boring. It is fun, tragic and brilliant. It creates small miracles out of nothing. When Jo Strømgren's voice over tells us that the strip in front of the stage is a river, we believe him. Each character tells a story of life and love, and there are hilarious scenes like the un-deads becoming Catholics or try having sex.
Jo Strømgren know what it take to make a coherent performance and his cast brings all their skills into the mix. The question is will the new,almost non-Royal ensemble raise to the same level?
Photos by Klaus Vedfeldt (Copyright(c) CORPUS)
1. Cedric Lambrette, Femke Mølbach Slot, Alexander Stæger, Esther Lee Wilkinson, Lena-Maria Gruber & Beila Ungar
2. Alexander Stæger
Comments