SONGS OF MEN (2022)
“Songs of Men investigates the contemporary figure of "the young man" and the different ways that this figure seeks validation within a post-feminist landscape characterized by the rejection of the traditional patriarch and the rise of emotional sensitivity. While men continue to be predominantly associated with violence in popular culture, a younger generation actively identifies as victims—of systems, emotions, other men, and even women. In response to this paradigm shift and building on five years of choreographic research examining masculinity through dance, two male-identifying dancers invite the audience into intimate and tender spaces, questioning not only male complicity but also examining the performativity of vulnerability and how male "frailty" operates within different structures of intimacy.”
In 2021, I was invited to finish the triptych of dance-performances I had started with The Dead Pigeon (2018) and The Black Truffle (2019). My intention had always been to culminate these performance rituals of self-mutilation by putting it onto someone else’s body, allowing myself to be on the outside looking in. For this task I invited the very talented Amsterdam based dancer Liam McCall to spend a few months with me developing a score mostly based around my experiences of having been a highly decorated competitive cheerleader in my youth. The material was highly charged with teenage angst and a soundtrack that consisted almost only of male-identifying lead singers going deeply into their feelings (Korn, Evanescence, Linkin Park, etc.). We played extensively with contact improvisation, stunts, acrobatics, makeup and costuming, searching for the fine line dividing empathy, validation, ridicule and manipulation.
The premiere was set for late 2021, but a terrible ankle injury during a casual volleyball game with my father severely delayed the production. After 10 months of learning to walk and jump again, we premiered almost a year later in Amsterdam. It was an extremely heavy process to carry and complete, but I am proud of the result and deeply thankful for Liam having stayed close all through the recovery.
(scroll to the bottom for the video documentation)
Written and Directed by Andrée Chapatte
Created and Performed by Andrée Chapatte and Liam McCall
With the support of the AFK, the Fonds21, Dansmakers Amsterdam & Veem House for Performance (now De Brakke Grond).
Sound: Fani Konstantinidou
Light: Theatervogels
Scenography support: Hans Muller
Performance documentation: Koen Gant
With massive thanks to the Veem House for Performance team, Igor Vrebac and Meytal Blanaru (outside eyes), Nathaniel Moore (for replacing me while my leg was broken), the guys from LIMES, the BAU residency program, DansBrabant, Dansateliers, Eline Van Ark, and everyone who came to give feedback.
A little bit about the photos: they were made by my awesome sister Olivia Faye during a tumultuous visit to see her in Florida during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Sneaking into this pool to make aquatic jugallo pictures is one of my all time favourite memories with her. ⬇︎♡
