Brazilian-born choreographer Jean Abreu is making his mark on the dance world. Combining muscular, fluid and gritty performances with electronic rock music, carried on a powerful message of male sexuality and emotional expression, his work is hard to ignore. He talks legacy, outsider status and dialogue with Joy Francis.
Jean Abreu is far too modest. Sitting on a balcony at the Southbank Centre the Brazilian-born choreographer plays down the ecstatic response his work INSIDE, which deals with confinement in a male prison, has attracted. “I’m very interested in the genuine reaction of the audience, “he says. “We were all shocked at the response. People have been very generous.”
When INSIDE took over the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre for a one off show in September, featuring a live performance from rock band 65daysofstatic, you would have been forgiven for thinking that the Stone Roses had reformed — ahead of schedule.
With the stage sheathed in bleak low lighting and smoke, five fluid angst-ridden male dancers propelled their way through an emotionally charged show. Backed by a loud, live, electric and driven soundtrack, the performance garnered a standing ovation from the capacity audience.
Three years since its inception, with a year on tour taking in RichMix, the Edinburgh Festival and more recently art venues, Abreu has had to adapt the show to fit the venue, creating a different experience with each performance.
“Moving from a small confined space such as RichMix to a bigger space at the Southbank, creates a show that hopefully caters for all the different levels of stage and space,” he explains. “I wanted to make a work that had that capacity. We can do it straight theatre or site specific. You always have to be thinking ahead.”
The Laban Centre graduate and former artist-in-residence at Dance East established his company Jean Abreu Dance in 2009 to deal with contemporary issues using a variety of media. Despite the physical form of dance, Abreu feels there is still a place for dialogue in his work.
“My dancers should be able to talk through the movement so it has a sensation, meaning and message. I use words as a choreographer would, not like a theatre director or playwright would. Sound moves. There is a rhythm. That is what I’m interested in.”
Used sparingly, the words pack an emotional punch and are full of longing, yearning and despair. “Restricted. Rerestricted. Lost. Found. Found again,” said repeatedly in synch with a physical interpretation of each word creates an indelible code.
Despite his growing reputation as an exciting modern choreographer, Abreu still sees himself as an “outsider” where the dance establishment is concerned. “I’m creating shows that can speak beyond the confinement of the arts. I like people from different backgrounds to understand what I do. I’d like the respect of the arts. I am an artist and choreographer and that validation is important, but I am still an outsider.”
Although dance is “a short lived project”, Abreu would like to leave a lasting legacy: “I hope that is what I’m achieving. I make work for people to have real experiences. Not that I am pushing them, but I am providing them with the space and time to do that, and to know that they can trust me. Great art should supply people with a great experience.”
Visit www.jeanabreu.com and watch a brief trailer from INSIDE