body:language returns with a new series of talks in the Lilian Baylis Studio about the body in dance and live performance, philosophy, science, medicine, anthropology and the arts, curated by dramaturg and writer Guy Cools. 

In the beginning of the 21st century, the body reclaims its central position as a memory bank of human knowledge in a lot of philosophical and scientific discourse. Dance and the performing arts in general always had this body knowledge at the core of their practice and as such are a happy hunting ground to apply - and better understand - these old and new somatic insights from ancient healing practices to present day bioenergetics. British and international artists are interviewed about the central place of the body in their work and how their reflection and understanding of it relates to other fields and disciplines. “The body never lies.” (Martha Graham)

Alain Platel is trained as a remedial educationalist, and is an autodidact director. In 1984 he set up a small theatre group with a number of friends and as director, he was responsible for Bonjour Madame (1993), La Tristeza Complice (1995) and Iets op Bach (1998), with which les ballets C de la B (as the group is now called) achieved international success. His work with Arne Sierens for the Ghent youth theatre company, Victoria, was also met with critical acclaim, including the three plays Moeder en Kind (1995), Bernadetje (1996) and Allemaal Indiaan (1999).

After Allemaal Indiaan he announced that he would no longer make productions. But shortly afterwards Gerard Mortier persuaded him to work on Wolf (2003) based on Mozart for the Ruhrtriennale. In 2006, his work with composer Fabrizio Cassol on vsprs (2006) proved to be a turning point in his career.

After the baroque pitié! (2008), Out Of Context is an almost ascetic reflection of the movement repertoire of spasms and tics. Platel consistently continues to search this language of movement for incarnations of feelings that are too vast to be expressed in other forms.

This is the third of three body:language talks taking place in the Lilian Baylis Studio this autumn.
Dana Caspersen - body:language
Tim Etchells - body:language

Transcripts
PDF transcripts and podcasts of past body:language talks are available here

Part of the Jerwood Studio at Sadler’s Wells, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.