AUTORRETRATOBACK »
World premiere in the International Forum Theatre, Tokyo,
9th May 2008
Premiere in the Flamenco Biennial, Seville
26th of September
Choreography and Direction: María Pagés
Choreographic collaboration Farruca José Barrios
Original Music Score: Rubén Lebaniegos, José Antonio Carillo, Isaac Muñoz, María Pagés
Music and lyrics: Alberto Cortez, Miguel Hernández, José Saramago, María Pagés, traditional folk.
Lighting: Pau Fullana
Set and wardrobe design: María Pagés
Costumer: Luis F. Santos
Dyeing and painting of fabrics: María Calderón
“When Mikhail Baryshnikov invited me to dance in the Baryshnikov Art Centre (BAC), he asked me for a very personal performance, that would show me as a person as well as a dancer or a creator. I interpreted his wish as if it were my self-portrait that he was looking for and although what I then presented was limited by a small and intimate space, the idea of developing my self-portrait onstage encouraged me to create this performance. I felt the need to learn to know myself, more so at this present moment of my life, the need to stop and get closer to the mirror to be able to see clearly, to observe myself and to analyse myself thoroughly and translate all of this into a movement, an atmosphere, a stage setting. What I tried to do was to follow the process that painters follow when they draw or paint their self-portrait.
The truth of the matter is that dance is the only medium that I have found to get to know myself, let us say that dance has been a part of me forever, that we have not abandoned each other, that we are one; in short, dancing is what best shows what I am.
I have learnt from this experience to look at myself in the mirror as if it were a game, never forgetting the words of wisdom found in “La Soleá”.
- “The mirror at which you look
- “The mirror at which you look
- will tell you what you are,
- but will never tell you
- the thoughts that you have”
