Lovetrain2020
Emanuel Gat Dance
A celebration of dance with a concert vibe, a choreographic ode to the sound and mood of the 1980s – Emanuel Gat’s contemporary musical ‘Lovetrain2020’ celebrates movement, the body and life in a dazzling space full of possibilities with 14 dancers and the world-famous hits of British duo Tears for Fears.
Premiered in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2020, the work not only demonstrates the power of the body and community, but also draws a connection to music history: Tears for Fears sparked a worldwide boom in British pop music. Choreographer Emanuel Gat leaves room for the distinctive music and yet finds different approaches to the band’s rhythms and lyrics with the dancers of his company. The extraordinary language of movement not only creates new references to world-famous hits such as ‘Shout’ and ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ but also breathtaking images. In the play of light and shadow, designed by Emanuel Gat, and the colourful costumes by Thomas Bradley, dancer with the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company, people find freedom in movement and energy in stillness, pause and break out into a frenzy of colours and shapes. Let it all out!
Duration: ca. 1 h 15 min
Without language
Born in Nahariya, Israel, in 1969, Emanuel Gat began his career as a dancer. He had originally aspired to become a conductor and even completed a semester at the music academy. However, he ultimately discovered his talent for dance and choreography during a workshop, as he recognised parallels to music composition. Gat studied at the Beit Zvi School for the Performing Arts in Tel Aviv and later expanded his dance training at the renowned Psik Theatre Dance School in Brussels. After several years as a dancer with various international companies, including the renowned Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), Gat decided in 1994 to pursue his own choreographic visions. Gat received widespread international attention with his interpretation of Le sacre du printemps in 2004. In the same year, he also founded his own dance company, Emanuel Gat Dance, initially based in Istres, France, and later in neighbouring Marseille. The dancers in Gat’s company deliberately differ in their origins and dance styles. Their individual interpretations of Gat’s instructions influence the creative process of the choreography and are an integral part of the creations. In 2023, Emanuel Gat was also a member of the jury for the 35th Choreography Competition in Hanover. His work will be presented for the first time in Hanover as part of the OsterTanzTage 2024.
Music: Tears for Fears
Choreography and Light: Emanuel Gat
Costume design: Thomas Bradley
Costume construction: Thomas Bradley, Wim Muyllaert
Created with and performed by the dancers: Eglantine Bart, Tara Dalli, Noé Girard, Nikoline Due Iversen, Pepe Jaimes, Gilad Jerusalmy, Olympia Kotopoulos, Michael Loehr, Emma Mouton, Rindra Rasoaveloson, Abel Rojo Pupo, Sara Wilhelmsson
Technical management & Light controlling: Guillaume Février
Sound: Frédéric Duru
Wardrobe: Marie-Pierre Calliès
Coproduction: Festival Montpellier Danse 2020, Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse, Arsenal Cité musicale – Metz, Theater Freiburg, with the support of Romaeuropa Festival. Emanuel Gat Dance acknowledges the support of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, and DRAC Provence Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Région Sud – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Conseil Départemental des Bouches-du- Rhône. LOVETRAIN2020 receives the support of Institut Français for its international tours in 2022. Created at Agora – cité internationale de la danse in Montpellier.
