THERON & THOMPSON
Duo de et avec Didier Théron (Fr) et Keith Thompson (USA)

This project was born on a terrain foreign to both artists: Both THERON and THOMPSON met in Kyoto - Japan. In the word „étranger“ (foreigner) we hear the word „étrange“ (strange) and in this exchange, we can expect the strange within dance and movement : dialogue in order to lose oneself, to confront oneself and to confront the other, to love this combat and what it engenders. Confront two „stories“, two cultures, two countries, two attitudes, two territories, and shared dance. The duet translates this encounter and takes the form of a dialogue which humorously and playfully interrogates the foundation of cultural and choreographic identities. The title summarizes this project well: Skillfully attempt a juxtaposition, an association, and observe how the idea develops...

Didier Théron
„This duet requires two fair adversaries / valorous partners who respond to the jousts, provocations and propositions of the other which lead off into new horizons ; two partners ready to respond to the other, responsible for and guarantors of an approach and a knowledge to be overturned and redefined.
The partners have their baggage, their dance history, their experience in movement / on the stage / of travel / of things foreign, recorded in their body, their spirit.
The partners have partners, Laurel and Hardy, Mercier and Camier, Bouvard and Pécuchet, James Dean and Jerry Lewis. I chose this co-operation with Keith, in complicity, duplicity, duality and continuity.“

Keith Thompson
Dances with Dan Wagoner & dancers, Jacob’s Pillow Men Dancers, and Creach/Koester Company, among others, and with the Trisha Brown Company as interpreter and rehearsal assistant until 2001.
„Before speaking to Didier, I attended a performance of his solo „Self-portrait Raskolnikov“ Immediately, I was captivated by this piece, the physicality and theatrality of his dance. Extremely precise, minutely detailed, he explores movement in an organic manner, the body as close as possible to its nature. The idea of working together with him on a duet would be for me like being a friendly adversary in a game. To learn from each other and especially to exceed our creative limits. Combining my American choreographic culture with that of Didier’s French background could result in an explosive evolution of contemporary art.“