A SWEET SPELL OF OBLIVION by David Dawson

Choreography: David Dawson
Music: J.S Bach
Dancers: Jurgita Dronina and Fabien Voranger
Costumes: Yumiko Takeshima
Original Stage Design: John Otto
Performed at the Dance Open Festival, St Petersburg 2013 and winner of 'Best Duet Award'.
In Dawson’s A SWEET SPELL OF OBLIVION it is only the breath of a veil that still separates the ‘before’ from the ‘now’; the past manifests itself suddenly and noticeably closer in the auditorium. As if carried by some spirit hand Johann Sebastian Bach’s music begins: a dream sequence without beginning and without end, flows past the eyes of the spectator, rich in situations and emotions, which constitute the notion of ‘being a human’ - and at the same time it always celebrates the technical perfection and virtuosity of a dancer.
‘For me oblivion is a place, which is free, a place of dreaming, an apparent place without name, a place outside of time. A SWEET SPELL OF OBLIVION is like a manuscript, like a reading of a score. The concept is based on the relationship between music and dance, memory and solidarity with history, technology, language and structure. There are moments when the past stands beside us and the present can be reflected in it for a short time. In such an instant the past transforms into a new existence, always carrying in itself the notion of a future. The beauty of mankind and what makes it so valuable is the fact, that we are all human beings. And although we constantly try to develop systems in order to try to understand it, we are nevertheless always the same humans, who wake up in the morning, with a beating heart in our body and all the feelings, fears, uncertainties, which surround us. Thus, the human aspect will always be part of each artistic creation - it is always the desire to want to understand the human nature and what it is ‘to be a human’ - David Dawson
For A SWEET SPELL OF OBLIVION David Dawson made a selection of preludes from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. Through his own unique dance language, he expresses a variety of ideas. This is an ecstatic ode to dance and the dancer. Dawson’s approach to Bach is very sensitive, and his wealth of inventiveness, never trying to compete with the composer, but giving us his response through a series of scenes that suggest an abstract narrative and focus on the simplicity of dance, as opposed to the grand spectacle. The ballet is viewed as a dream in which for a brief while we lose ourselves in the whirling sequence of variations, of uninterrupted movements, and wake up as the work comes to its end.
www.daviddawson.com

[@sunyalila]

Utterly gorgeous. Dear David Dawson, every sensibility expressed in your choreography totally resonates with my own and the passionate and soulful engagement that you inspire and elicit from your dancers down to the authentically embodied and expressed nuance of the hands and fingers leaves me satisfied and inspired in ways that I rarely feel except when dancing myself. I am sure that the dancers must be transformed by the experience of working with you and touching into themselves and all so deeply. The last time I felt as moved by the totality of ballet choreography and its expression was in Stuttgart (where I think you are now setting something on the dancers!). There are choreographers such as Cranko and Kylian and those that followed them through their influence who have also moved me and whose work I love. However, I think I was soul touched in a way that went beyond anything when I heard and saw Mahler's Das Lied Von Der Erde choreographed by MacMillan for the first time and not even understanding the words or narrative cried uncontrollably for an hour afterwards - and cried for years after when ever hearing the last movement (Der Abscheid - The Farewell). Since recently feeling similarly touched when seeing your exceptionally moving trailer of your absolutely exquisite Four Last Songs, (the music of which deeply touched me when, circa 1971, Lorca Massine choreographed to it on some of the students in the advanced class I was in at S.A.B), I have been looking for complete works by you here at youtube. I have been savoring every snippet found and am so glad to see this more complete expression. I just subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more here and hopefully in person some day. Thank you so much. Deep bows of admiration and appreciation💗🙏

[@braga144]

wonderful. Your sliding legato style is stunning and with such a musicality. Can't wait to see it soon at la Scala

[@lgomez3268]

Wow, another beautiful piece!!! I’m becoming a big fan of your work.

[@onclebob2178]

Sublime!

[@JT-lq2ng]

Im a huge fan now..

[@fatimanollen1822]

Beautiful. Just a bit dark to watch on screen. Thanks for sharing , very generous of you so people can learn more about your work.

[@Sandrah326]

Lindíssimo!🙏❤️💐👏👏👏🇧🇷🖖

[@marcosbarzagli]

❤❤❤

[@toeknee1965]

you dance beautiful together :-). like ice cream. so smooth :-)

[@chicchachiacchio3090]

Sto piangendo...

[@chicchachiacchio3090]

Pubblicane ancora!!!!!!!