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Edmund Lee

POLITICAL MOTHER
	Hofesh Shechter Company
 
When asked to reconcile his many successes in the contemporary dance world with the fact he mainly creates small-scale pieces, Hofesh Shechter simply says he hasn't been a choreographer for long. It's hard to tell if the Israeli-born, London-based artist is merely being humble.
After starting as a professional dancer with Tel Aviv's Batsheva Dance Company, Shechter moved to Britain in 2002.

He made his debut as a choreographer in 2003 with the duet Fragments, which was followed by a series of critically acclaimed small-scale works. He then went on his first global tour in 2008 with Hofesh Shechter Company, which he founded the same year.
His first full-length work, Political Mother (2010), which made use of 10 dancers and eight musicians, achieved such widespread approval that it spawned a "choreographer's cut" with a considerably larger ensemble in the following year.
"The original version was very successful, which is why we were given the freedom to create this new cut," he says.
A modified version of the choreographer's cut will be performed at New Vision Arts Festival's opening programme; it will feature more than 40 performers and include an Asian music-inspired section that was created especially for Hong Kong. The work juxtaposes folk dance and hard rock that is sometimes played at an almost deafening volume.
Shechter suggests that the new version's larger number of dancers has allowed him to offer a more powerful experience, as befits a show about leaders and the masses, the oppressor and the oppressed.
"In a way, the original version is heavier in atmosphere, while the energy now really feels like a celebration of human emotion rather than something depressing," the 39-year-old says.
The "cinematic" editing of the show was partly inspired by his passion for film with inventive approaches to storytelling. He cites  2001: A Space Odyssey,  Being John Malkovich and Adaptation as three of his favourites.
Shechter's experience of living in London also contributed to the show's fragmented structure. "People can have very different experiences in the same place," he says.

"It's interesting to look at it as if it's something on television, flipping from one channel to another. I thought switching between these conflicting realities would create an interesting emotional response."
Shechter hopes the show's political imagery inspires "a sense of hope, forgiveness and acceptance" in audiences. "It takes you through a cycle of pain, hope and despair. I hope the audience will get a sense of fellowship and brotherhood; a sense that we're in this together, that we've created this world together," he says.
As the artistic director of his self-titled company, Shechter has been touring with Political Mother and his full-length follow-up Sun, which had its world premiere in Melbourne, Australia, last October. He is also preparing several projects for next year, including the first part of a new triple bill for his company, and a 30-dancer, 30-minute piece he is working on with the Royal Ballet in London.
For the latter work — as he did for Political Mother, Sun  and some of his shorter pieces — Shechter is creating both the choreography and the musical score, but this time for a live orchestra. It's a lot of work, but he sounds more excited than overwhelmed. "I'm trying to stay prolific and creative," says Shechter, who studied percussion and was once a drummer in a rock band.
"I don't only want to work for my company, even though that is the heart and soul of what I do — I love and adore my dancers. I enjoy having a creative life beyond contemporary dance. I hope to start working with film, perhaps by directing dance films," he says.
 
Cultural Centre Grand Theatre,10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, October 16-18, 7.30pm. HK$120-HK$480 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2370 1044
 


Arts preview: choreographer Hofesh Shechter is a man of many talents

Political Mother by Hofesh Shechter.

Hofesh Shechter

Magazines

48 Hours

When asked to reconcile his many successes in the contemporary dance world with the fact he mainly creates small-scale pieces, Hofesh Shechter simply says he hasn't been a choreographer for long. It's hard to tell if the Israeli-born, London-based artist is merely being humble.
