By Crystal Pite NDT 1
Nederlands Dans Theater
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Online Review 15 April 2020
The Statement by Crystal Pite, for Nederlands DansTheater,
is a collision of movement and dialogue in an impeccably choreographed piece
of dance theatre.
The narrative is
embedded in recorded dialogue that accompanies and the rhythms, pace and power dynamics
of the voices create the score for the dancers.
This physicalisation of the four dancers relates directly to
the dialogue which reveals corporate misdemeanours, mismanagement, cover-ups,
on- and off-record statements.
All physical action revolves around an enormous, glossy and
expensive boardroom table, four people deal with corporate issues. The actual business
of the company is never stated but the content and conflict could be anywhere,
anytime, in any type of corporate business.
They all indulge in justification, excuses, shifting responsibility
and lame claims of innocence and following instructions: ‘It’s a cover up!’ ‘Clear
it up!’ says the leader. ‘Your department got it going.’ ‘I’m here to get a
statement about how your department acted independently.’
The Power dynamic, conflict an argument escalate as it
becomes clear that some of these underlings are puppets, manipulated by and invisible
bosses and controllers up the corporate ladder.
The Statement is an exhlarating and gripping 20 minute performance
that melds theatre superbly with dance.
By Kate Herbert
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