Programme

Jan Martens dances the portrait of the Polish harpsichordist Elisabeth Chojnacka, whose exceptional passion and talent inspired some of the greatest contemporary composers, from Ligeti to Xenakis and Górecki.

Can one play one's body like a musical instrument? After presenting Sweat Baby Sweat and Ode to the Attempt in 2020, Belgian dancer and choreographer Jan Martens returns to Kinneksbond to deliver a virtuosic, fused, and monumental tribute to Elisabeth Chojnacka (1939-2017), an outstanding musician, who contributed to the revival of the harpsichord in the second half of the 20th century.

Peppered with archival footage and testimonies, the show's seven acts unfold at the pace of the harpsichordist's fingers, whose complex and percussive renditions provide the soundtrack of the piece. Rhythmic nuances, dynamic movements, and offbeat outfits: Jan Marten’s choreography echoes the very elements that made Elisabeth Chojnacka an unequalled and unmatchable artist, while accurately and playfully exploring the symbiotic relationship between music and dance.