By Andrea Banda
A&E Editor
In 1992 Jacques Heim introduced Los Angeles to a new type of dance. In the 2002-2003 touring year, Heim’s group, the Diavolo Dance Theatre, is making its only Los Angeles appearance at Smothers Theatre Jan. 16.
Heim’s 10-member company, the Diavolo Dance Theatre, consists of gymnasts, dancers, rock climbers and actors whose individual creative talents collaborate to create a performance unlike any other.
The performances involve risky and creative movements, which represent the struggle to preserve human relationships within a contemporary environment. Heim said on the Diavolo Web site, www.diavolo.org, that the choreography extends the boundaries of traditional dance by offering the audience a cinematic experience of powerful imagery and abstract narratives.
“My work investigates the latent absurdities of contemporary human life and seeks to recontextualize those absurdities through the body, exploring the influences of the environment, possessions and relationships,” Heim said. “My aim is to capture and comment upon the ironic and frequently humorous patterns, as well as the darker consequences, of human behavior.”
In 1981, Heim was the artistic director of a street theater group in Paris. He later moved to Vermont, where he earned a degree in theater, dance and film. He also attended the University of Surrey in England, and the California Institute of the Arts.
The group members use everyday props, such as chairs and doors, along with leaping, flying and twirling, to enhance their depiction of the human journey and its challenges.
The performances also encompass intricate and often surrealistic sets, created by Heim, chosen because of their role in human life and his desire to see how they influence behavior. The sets are also a crucial part of the performance, as they function with the team of dancers and their props to provide a unique view into the human condition.
“I am really excited about exploring the very tension that exists between passion and structure,” Heim said on the Web site.
In 1995, the company made its European debut at the Edinburgh Festival, where it was named “Best of the Fest” by The London Independent and “Critic’s Choice” by the Guardian.
Director Heim was awarded the 1992 Martha Hill Choreography Award by the American Dance Festival. Heim has also been named one of “The Faces to Watch in the Arts” by the Los Angeles Times and one of “the 100 Coolest People in L.A.” by Buzz Magazine.
The group also offers Diavolo dance classes on Wednesday evenings for $15 a class at the downtown Brewery Arts Complex, beginning Feb. 5.
Tickets for the Smothers performance are $6 for Pepperdine students with a student ID card.
January 16, 2003