Hofesh Shechter brings exploration of subconscious to 'Theater of Dreams'
In Asia, choreographer's latest work to be performed only in Seongnam, Shanghai
Hofesh Shechter, the internationally acclaimed choreographer known for his raw, hypnotic movement and pulsating soundscapes, is bringing his company's latest work, 'Theater of Dreams,' to Seongnam Arts Center March 14-15.
This time, the London-based Israeli choreographer and dancer delves into the world of fantasy and the subconscious. 'I started exploring this show thinking about dreams, the world of dreams, but also our dreams in life―what we want, what are the reasons for the things that we want? And then our personal desires and wishes,' said Shechter in an email interview with The Korea Herald, on Friday.
He described the work as an 'action-filled' performance, with the dancers' physicality highly intensified and a wide range of dynamic movements throughout the show, revealing fears, hopes, desires and a myriad of emotions that seep into both our dreams and waking thoughts.
''Theater of Dreams' looks at what is real and what is a fantasy. And what better place to look at this kind of subject than a stage, which is part reality, part fantasy,' said Shechter.
'I came up with this idea that the stage operates almost like a brain or the subconscious. It shows us some things and reveals and hides some other things. And the deeper we go into the stage, the more interesting things we see―that are connected to our existence as human beings.'
After premiering in Paris in June 2024, 'Theater of Dreams' has toured major cities in Europe as part of a global collaborations with 20 co-produced theaters. It will be performed in only two cities in Asia―Seongnam and Shanghai―March 7-9.
Thirteen dancers appear and reappear on stage at various moments, accompanied by a small band of three musicians who play live. The performance features a prerecorded soundtrack filled with electronic sounds and voices, set against the backdrop of Shechter's trademark cinematic soundscape, which he composed himself.
Shechter, who began playing the piano at the age of six, expressed his enjoyment of composing and emphasized its importance in creating 'a full experience.'
'It's a conversation between the sounds and the imagery that is never ending,' said Shechter about composing and choreography. 'It happens simultaneously. I will find some sounds that inspire me, I'll take them to the studio and start making movements for these sounds. Then I'll get inspired by the movements, go back home, record more music.'
Shechter emphasized the significance of being inside the performance hall as a 'visceral experience,' where you can see, smell and sense the stage and the performance. And also when a group of 1,000 or more people gathers in a room to share an experience, it creates a unique atmosphere that highlights the powerful connection among us.
'This is something we did for tens of thousands of years from the dawn of being a human being,' he said.
'There is a realization that our lives are very similar, the experiences we go through is very similar be it difficult or beautiful or amazing or whatever it is. And that we are all connected. There is a sense of a very communal experience.'
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