Rochdy Laribi & Christine Bouvier’s Do Not Disturb performance
LIVE 2019 officially kicked off the first performance of this year’s festival last night, October 1st, with Rochdy Laribi & Christine Bouvier’s Do Not Disturb at Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Patricia Hotel.
The performance was immersive, called “a voyage of multiple dream worlds” by one audience member, overtaking ideas attendees may have about opening receptions, luring them down the rabbit hole through a dreamlike tour outside and inside the Patricia Hotel, with an extravagant conclusion at neighbouring Pat’s Pub.
Five performers in masks of different creatures and undergarments each occupied a window of the hotel, spread against the panes. Passion is elicited. Excitement mounts as the creatures’ body undulations transition from behind glass to the hotel’s exterior.
Returning to the building’s interior, small groups are masked then led up the stairs of the hotel. What awaits? Nothing is said but quiet talk of dreams.
The audience is greeted with a whole fish on a bed of ice, stepping into a ritual which is about to begin. The performers communicate with their bodies and suggestive movements, dancing down the hallway with the fish, occasionally turning to wave the audience a friendly goodbye. Yet they return.
The groups are split as there are multiple dream rooms to enter, yet their space is too small to accomodate all. The mysteriousness of the performance is heightened by consistent moaning sounds and an undeniable sense of allure. Attendees are courteously invited to an exclusive party in the wild and are encouraged to participate with equal liberatedness, depending on the manifestation of the dream in each particular room. What happens in each is not remembered, like those mornings you awake wishing with all your might that the night dream had never ended.
At the end of the night, artists, performers, and attendees gather at the pub with drinks. The creatures – rabbits, zebras, gorillas, in fabulous dresses -have emerged from the hotel’s dream rooms to join the waking dream where we celebrate together merrily. Everyone dances with each other to music that provokes the vibration of Paris in the 20s. LIVE is alive.
Review by Katherine Chan and Ash Tanasiychuk for VANDOCUMENT.
The Do Not Disturb performance was a culmination of a three-day workshop that happened immediately preceding the performance, Sept 28-30 at the Sun Wah Centre. Read more about the workshop in our previous Update posts:
September 28 highlightsSeptember 28 highlights & September 29 and 30 highlightsSeptember 29 and 30 highlights.
Thank you, Rochdy Laribi & Christine Bouvier, for the incredible time and commitment you brought to Vancouver, to your workshops, and to last night’s unbelievable performances.
Thank you to the local Vancouver artists who participated in the workshops and made the performance the outstanding dreamscapes that it was.
Video by Sophia Wolfe.
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Tonight: Ito Tari at Western Front.
Do not miss this once in a lifetime chance to witness the great Japanese performance artist.
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Preach R Sun’s performance time and location confirmed!
Do not miss visiting artist Preach R Sun’s performance on Thursday, October 3. It starts at The Patricia Hotel at 2:30pm. From there, the artist will lead the audience on a walking performance.
This event is free to attend. Rain or shine. Come join us! More information on the Facebook eventthe Facebook event.
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LIVE 2019 is September 28 – October 6, 2019. Find the full schedule is on our websiteour website and on our Facebook pageour Facebook page.
Find out what’s happened at LIVE 2019!
Sept 28 highlightsSept 28 highlights
Sept 29 & 30 highlights and looking ahead to the rest of the festSept 29 & 30 highlights and looking ahead to the rest of the fest
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