“It’s big. It’s really—it’s big,” said Louis-Martin Charest during Friday’s performance of A la demande generale, Mon Dernier Recital.
At first I was unsure whether he was referring his daughter’s birth or the end of his dance career. In our interview earlier that day, Louis-Martin said that both landmarks had inspired his new show. In his experience, “a dancer is involved in his artistic endeavors and it seems like life revolves around himself. When a child is born, everything switches. Changes.”
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Caley Crossman, co-owner of Studio Bliss Massage and Yoga Spa and longtime friend of Louis-Martin Charest, asked me to write about his friend’s new show. After doing some research, chatting with Louis-Martin, and viewing the performance, it was easy to see why Studio Bliss sponsored the show. The theme of discovering oneself is one I encounter everyday in the yoga studio. It’s the challenge of uniting the body and mind, accepting who you are at any given moment, and being true to yourself.
Louis-Martin gives us the unique opportunity to witness this challenge on stage. His show is about reconciling the artist and father within himself. During our interview he said, “In theory, I should be done. I’m forty years old…but whatever I’m doing right now, today, long term, I’m thinking about how this is going to affect [my daughter]. So I will continue. I need to come back to dance in myself, to put myself on stage for fifty-five minutes and see what happens.”
Throughout the fifty-five-minute show, Louis-Martin’s character switched between these two roles. He would say, “Your mother was beautiful in her white dress.” Then he would launch into a graceful waltz with an absent partner.
At times, Louis-Martin’s memories inspired a lyrical dream-like quality in his movement and others launched him into a complex improvisation with quick footwork, direction changes, pushing and pulling. His contemporary ballet background came through even when he announced, “It’s a question of rhythm,” and proceeded to conduct his body like an orchestra, hitting every musical note. Each movement had an essence, a life to it. As he explained to me, “We’re trying to codify my movement. To pick out the quick and sharp, slightly staccato, and the more fluid space-eating movement.”
I found this fascinating.
The more I watched Louis-Martin move on stage, the more I understood. He listened to his body. That’s why he could improvise an entire show. His words informed his movement and it all came from somewhere deep within him, where change was happening right before my eyes.
Towards the end of the show, Louis-Martin put this process into words. He said, “Be yourself.”
It’s that simple. No matter your profession, passions, relationships, or endeavors, the process of self-discovery is ongoing. I noticed that Louis- Martin’s goddaughter, who was in the audience that day, stood stock-still in front of the stage as he dispensed that advice. Even this four-year-old girl knew that it was wisdom to hold onto.
Emily Finkelstein
Caley Crossman is attending Wednesday’s performance of A la demande generale, Mon Dernier Recital. Join in the post-show discussion with Louis-Martin on Wednesday or Friday.
Remaining shows are Wednesday December 15th 19h30 and Friday December 17th 20h
Presented at the Sainte Art-Scene, 1025 Belanger East, Montreal
Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 student at the door, $15 regular at the door.
Reserve your tickets at 514 276-8715 marianne@liberamae.com
For more information:
www.liberamae.com
www.facebook.com/liberamae
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