The question of beauty in a body that is suffering, the intense contrast that exists between these two “objects” (beauty and pain) and the awareness of being able, through their commitment, to succeed in showcasing a “dancing” space; these are the starting points for A Fascio di Nervi (a first study). This work, whose first phase had already been presented at the Summer Studios Showing in Brussels in 2007 and then at the Les Dimanches de la Danse Festival in the Schaerbeek Halls in 2008, brings together Antonio Montanile – dancer/choreographer and Thomas Luks – musician, in a context that questions pain and sustained torment. The experience of solitude that the sensation of suffering entails for a subject makes it evermore inept when the other approaches.
At the beginning, the musician advances frontstage with his cello, sits down and begins to play. Rapidly, the dancer positions himself next to him. But what appears to be a duo is quickly interrupted by the evermore vehement gestures of the dancer, which end up by obliging the musician to distance himself. The whole performance goes on to focus on the alternation and the renewal of the figures that illustrate a possible “being together” and its opposite, the “being one”.
By imagining his work around the paradigm of pain and the solitude of torment, Antonio Montanile addresses the factors that incite him to dance by seeking out in his body and in the scars that remain ever-so present the traces of a violent intrusion experienced in the past. A Fascio di Nervi (first study) can be viewed as the development of a dialogue whose rhythm, between suspense and release, highlights the procrastination of two protagonists in their attempts to approach one another.

Source : Maison de la Danse programme

Dancer, choreographer and teacher Antonio Montanile studied and reach the Venice Biennal Dance company in Venice under the direction of Carolyn Carlson. He started working for Caterina Sagna Dance Company, Déjà Donné, Philippe Saire, Carmen Blanco Principal, Erika Zueneli and MariaClara Villa Lobos.

Encouraged by Carolyn Carlson, he started to create his own choreographies and little by little developed them gathering new supporters and winning prizes: Biennale di Venezia, Ccn Roubaix, De Pianofabriek, Danse à Lille, Airwaves, CND Paris, Moving FabbricaEuropa.

He received a Diploma as a teacher of contemporary dance at CND in Lyon.

Source : Antonio Montanile 's website

More information

antoniomontanile.com

Author, filmmaker and video artist Charles Picq (1952-2012) entered working life in the 70s through theatre and photography. A- fter resuming his studies (Maîtrise de Linguistique - Lyon ii, Maîtrise des sciences et Techniques de la Communication - grenoble iii), he then focused on video, first in the field of fine arts at the espace Lyonnais d'art Contemporain (ELAC) and with the group « Frigo », and then in dance.
   On creation of the Maison de la Danse in Lyon in 1980, he was asked to undertake a video documentation project that he has continued ever since. During the ‘80s, a decade marked in France by the explosion of contemporary dance and the development of video, he met numerous artists such as andy Degroat, Dominique Bagouet, Carolyn Carlson, régine Chopinot, susanne Linke, Joëlle Bouvier and regis Obadia, Michel Kelemenis. He worked in the creative field with installations and on-stage video, as well as in television with recorded shows, entertainment and documentaries.

His work with Dominique Bagouet (80-90) was a unique encounter. He documents his creativity, assisting with Le Crawl de Lucien and co-directing with his films Tant Mieux, Tant Mieux and 10 anges. in the 90s he became director of video development for the Maison de la Danse and worked, with the support of guy Darmet and his team, in the growing space of theatre video through several initiatives:
       - He founded a video library of dance films with free public access. This was a first for France. Continuing the video documentation of theatre performances, he organised their management and storage.
       - He promoted the creation of a video-bar and projection room, both dedicated to welcoming school pupils.
       - He started «présentations de saisons» in pictures.
       - He oversaw the DVD publication of Le tour du monde en 80 danses, a pocket video library produced by the Maison de la Danse for the educational sector.

       - He launched the series “scènes d'écran” for television and online. He undertook the video library's digital conversion and created Numeridanse.

His main documentaries are: enchaînement, Planète Bagouet, Montpellier le saut de l'ange, Carolyn Carlson, a woman of many faces, grand ecart, Mama africa, C'est pas facile, Lyon, le pas de deux d'une ville, Le Défilé, Un rêve de cirque.

He has also produced theatre films: Song, Vu d'ici (Carolyn Carlson), Tant Mieux, Tant Mieux, 10 anges, Necesito and So schnell, (Dominique Bagouet), Im bade wannen, Flut and Wandelung (Susanne Linke), Le Cabaret Latin (Karine Saporta), La danse du temps (Régine Chopinot), Nuit Blanche (Abou Lagraa), Le Témoin (Claude Brumachon), Corps est graphique (Käfig), Seule et WMD (Françoise et Dominique Dupuy), La Veillée des abysses (James Thiérrée), Agwa (Mourad Merzouki), Fuenteovejuna (Antonio Gades), Blue Lady revistied (Carolyn Carlson).

Source: Maison de la Danse de Lyon