The Black Truffle (2019)

The Black Truffle was the project for a narrative dance-performance about the absolute unknowns that exist within all living bodies: fears that will forever be hidden, bliss that is endlessly concealed, and intuitions that will never be known. In short, The Black Truffle is a show about all the elements of our identities that firmly defy awareness and leave us restless and bewildered.

The piece was to consist of a sequence of uncustomary dances, accompanied by soundscapes, pre-recorded speech and video projections. Performed by Anastasia Guevel, Rafaël Elders and Salomé Genès, the dances were to be executed as an overlapping sequence of solos, duos and trios, with a variety of physical practices: T.R.E. (Tension Releasing Exercises), an inverted waltz, Benoît Lachambre's Embodied Resonance and Butoh's use of image work amongst other things.

The narrative aim was to define and understand 'the black truffle', an inner space that be cannot seen, understood or accessed in any way whatsoever, yet lies within each and every person in the world. Indeed, we all have a part of ourselves that we know we don't know. This, in essence, is the black truffle; a perfectly opaque space that, for the vast majority of people, does not matter in any way whatsoever. Yet by attempting to identify ideas and objects that may relate to it, a wildly complex and confusing story emerges, one that constantly tries throwing off the spectator at every possible occasion. The Black Truffle's narrative is futile, absurd and filled with strange collateral beauty. It aspires to bring the spectator beyond human perception.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the project was cancelled, leaving only a tryout performance and this video presenting the piece. This would be the last time that I would attempt to choreograph a work without myself being in it.

Filmed and Edited by Andrée Chapatte
With Anastasia Guevel, Salomé Genès, Rafaël Elders