Choreographer Crystal Pite on the sorrow that dare not speak at all: the loss of a child
How do you tell an emotionally charged, detailed, riveting story without the use of a single word? That's the choreographer's challenge, one that's hardly new to Crystal Pite.
Pite's current production Betroffenheit — a collaboration with writer/performer Jonathon Young, upon whose tragic personal story the production leans — is being staged this week as part of Panamania, Pan Am's massive cultural program. The nature of the show's material makes relating the tale wordlessly a treacherous proposition.
Betroffenheit tells an acutely personal story of the worst kind of loss; that is, a parent who loses their child. The title is a German word that refers to the acute feeling of being assailed by too much grief or horror to begin to process at once. The paralysis, confusion, and shock is visceral. Perhaps this is the best kind of story to tell with the body; while words are fine tools for giving specific information, gestures, facial expressions and even stillness are arguably better at capturing emotional states.
Hear Crystal Pite discuss all of this in her interview with Eleanor Wachtel in May 2015, where the acclaimed figure in Canada's dance community talks about her childhood, the challenges dance still holds for her, and the experience of working on Betroffenheit.
You can also hear her along with her Betroffenheit partner Jonathan Young as they sat down with Jelena Adzic on q earlier this week.
Canadian Stage and Panamania present Betroffenheit Thu-Fri, July 23-25, 2015, and Thu-Sun, Feb 18-21, 2016. Thu, Sat 8pm; Fri 7pm. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front St. E., Toronto. $24-$99 via 416-368-3110, Berkeley Street Theatre box office, www.canadianstage.com.