Coda 2015: Double Bill at Den Norske Opera & Ballett

Double bill is a programme in two parts that looks at individuality and duality. MAN is a solo created by Sølvi Edvardsen for Indian-born dancer Sudesh Adhana, while the solo Woman by Daniel Proietto is based on Virginia Woolf’s essay “A Room of One’s Own”.
MAN

MAN – with its double meaning of a male person and humanity in general – is a project at the interface between two cultures. MAN uses seriousness and absurd humour to depict the striving for balance experienced by each individual. MAN takes place as a dialogue between choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen and dancer Sudesh Adhana, in close collaboration with the composer and lighting designer.

Sølvi Edvardsen is one of Norway’s leading choreographers, and made her debut at Collage Dansekompani in 1980. She has choreographed works for the Norwegian National Ballet, Carte Blanche, Oslo Danse Ensemble and TV, and has created several commissioned works, including ones for the opening of Oslo Airport at Gardermoen and Bergen International Festival. She has choreographed large projects, such as Beyond Borders in India, and has worked on her own full-length productions.

Edvardsen became in 1984 the first choreographer to be awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize and has subsequently received many awards for her choreography.
Indian-born Sudesh Adhana studied at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and has also studied traditional Indian dance forms “chhau” and “kathakali”. His first contact with Norwegian culture was as performer in Edvardsen’s Beyond Borders in 2002. Adhana’s debut as choreographer in Indian film was in 2014. He is currently working both in Norway and India, finding fascination in the constant challenges that arise in the differences between the two cultures.
Woman

Virginia Woolf’s essay “A Room of One's Own” inspired prize-winning choreographer and dancer Daniel Proietto in his work with Woman. What would have happened if Shakespeare had had a sister who was just as gifted as he was? She would have committed suicide, suggests Virginia Woolf, who herself chose to take her own life 11 years after writing her essay about Shakespeare’s imaginary sister Judith. In accordance with 17th century expectations on women, Judith remains an unfulfilled genius, while her brother William becomes one of the greatest authors in history.

Proietto draws parallels in the solo between the story of Judith and Woolf’s own life, with references to her early years: the brothers who went to school, while she felt herself to be a prisoner in the home. Proietto also refers to the “voices in my head”, Woolf’s schizophrenic thoughts. Kate Pendry gives life to the “voices” in reading Woolf’s texts, which accompany the dancer on stage.

“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”

Argentinian Daniel Proietto has toured more than 30 countries, as dancer, choreographer and teacher, and has won several international awards. Since 2005 Proietto has worked closely with winter guests and Alan Lucien Øyen. At the Norwegian National Ballet he has excelled as dancer in the title role of Øyen’s Petrusjka, in Sinnermann and in several Kylián ballets, and as choreographer with the solo Cygne.

Double bill – two solos about individuality is presented by CODA Oslo International Dance Festival in collaboration with Riksteatret, and will premiere during the festival.