A wave of wooden blocks toppling like dominoes is the opening to Tarek Assam's latest piece which takes the audience on a magical journey through the life and times of the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. That he was a master of many disciplines is well known, and Assam, with his company of just eleven dancers, portrays the artist's diverse talents in five seamlessly connected scenes — not only his painting, but also his fascination with engineering, anatomy, and even flight.
A simple yet effective set design by Annett Hunger, featuring a mechanical clock and a wooden frame in three-dimensional perspective, is embedded in a constantly changing video projection that encloses the ensemble like a protective shell. The main character leads her followers as a close-knit group, with Assam shaping the choreography to reflect their diverse facets, incorporating fascinating shapes and patterns.
The music, composed especially for the piece by Patrick Schimanski, is characterized by a contemporary electronic sound that bridges the gap between Renaissance and modernity. The thunderous applause was well-deserved for a performance presented with pride and conviction.
Again in Bernburg, Carl Maria von Weber Theater, 4 April; Halberstadt, Harz Theater, 19 April; Quedlinburg, Harz Theater, 25 April; www.harztheater.de
