Midnight Raga

Photo: Rahi Rezvani

Choreographer: Marco Goecke

“Goecke combines a deep midnight blue with his piece 'Midnight Raga', the title of which hearkens back to classical Indian music. The raga is a basic melodic structure which often emotionally suits a particular time of day. Usually, Goecke does not begin a piece with music. This time it is different: the Indian music by Ravi Shankar is the starting point. The choreographer liked both the Indian mysticism and the ‘freaky’ quality of the music. He was also excited by the idea of using Indian music without resorting to elements of Indian dance at all. “I have been fascinated by India for a long time now because life there is so concentrated and intense, but at the same time seemingly also so immaterial and many people simply die in the most bitter poverty. I also think the ritual cremations after death have a captivating and, at the same time, annihilating power”, says the choreographer. Despite the Asian Indian inspiration – also reflected in the heavy blue silks of the costumes – one thing is unmistakable right from the start: Goecke’s very own, nervous language of movement, tailor-made for the two dancers Guido Dutihl and Alexander Anderson, and which they have internalized in every fiber of their bodies.” – Nadja Kadel