Philippe Saire

Dear audience,

We are delighted to present Hocus Pocus, a work by Swiss choreographer Philippe Saire. With very little — a pared-down lighting setup, two bodies, and boundless inventiveness — he succeeds in creating a complete world that is dreamlike, poetic, and full of mystery.

Blending shadow theatre and dance, this performance draws us into a wordless story that has the rare gift of enchanting both young and adult audiences alike. There is something truly magical in the way this tale is told. This visual narrative rekindles our imagination, reconnects us with our inner child, and reminds us that dance can be an extraordinary playground.

Hocus Pocus is also a wonderful opportunity for us to present dance in a different light. With a shorter and more accessible format, it’s perfect for family-friendly daytime performances as well as evening shows — and, in every case, it opens the door to endless imagination.

Thank you for joining us as we dive into this enchanting world together.

Enjoy the show!

Pierre Des Marais – Artistic and Executive Director of Danse Danse.

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Territorial Acknowledgement

Danse Danse acknowledges that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka Nation. We honour the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on the Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) territory, which has long served as a meeting place for exchanges between nations. With respect for the links to the past, present and future, we thank the Indigenous peoples for reminding us of the importance of living in harmony with ourselves, with each other and with nature, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present works of living art at Tiohtiá:ke.

Hocus Pocus is a dreamlike journey born from very little: hands, light, the breath shared between two beings. It invites us to see differently, to listen to what movement reveals when it breaks free from words. A wordless tale, it unfolds at a child’s eye level, tracing the delicate yet powerful bond between two brothers in a world of illusions, tension, and tenderness.

Through this duet, I sought to create a dance that speaks through the eyes, whispers to the heart, and leaves ample room for the imagination. A stripped-down work, where every movement matters, where light sculpts the narrative with the gentleness of a caress, of a playful connection.

It is a deep joy to return to Montréal and to present this work for the first time with Danse Danse. I see it as an outstretched hand to Québec audiences—an invitation into our poetic world, a space for play, quiet emotion, and simple wonder. Hocus Pocus embraces mystery and brings it into contact with adventure, with the illumination that comes from self-discovery. This work offers a shared experience across generations, a breath of imagination to be lived together, within the intimate setting of the theatre.

I hope that audiences—young and old—will find in it a space to dream, to be amazed, to lose and rediscover themselves. A suspended moment, where dance becomes light, and light becomes story.

Philippe Saire – Artistic Director and Choreographer, Compagnie Philippe Saire.

INITIATORY JOURNEY

The first section, almost like an introduction, focuses on discovery and the fascination with the stage device. Light acts like a brush, revealing whatever it touches, as the two dancers slowly begin to emerge within the neon-framed space. Skin textures and fragments of bodies—almost animal-like—appear and gradually come together. It's a deliberate choice to open a family show with such an abstract and poetic exploration of movement.

A more narrative dimension soon takes shape: the two boy-men, like close friends, challenge and support each other. They develop a bond rooted in mutual help, playful and full of laughter, yet tinged with a process of growing tougher in the face of life. This relationship, inspired by the two brothers in Le Grand Cahier by Agota Kristof, runs through the rest of the work.

Eventually, familiar markers fade away as the brothers lose and find each other again through dreamlike adventures: contorting their way out of a spider’s web, boarding a malfunctioning flying machine only to fall through the clouds, wandering underwater and meeting wondrous aquatic beings… Props and stagecraft contribute to the enchantment, while these acts of illusion summon various myths, punctuated at times by excerpts from Grieg’s Peer Gynt. Beyond the beauty of the imagery and its accessibility for children, the work unfolds as an initiatory journey—a gateway to the world.

Hocus Pocus

Concept and choreography by Philippe Saire.
Choreography in collaboration with dancers Philippe Chosson, Mickaël Henrotay-Delaunay.
Touring dancers Philippe Chosson and Pep Garrigues.
Set design Léo Piccirelli.
Accessories Julie Chapallaz, Hervé Jabveneau.
Sound design Stéphane Vecchione.
Technical direction Cristobal Rossier.
Stage Manager Louis Riondel.
Construction Cédric Berthoud.
Music Peer Gynt, by Edvard Grieg.

COPRODUCTION
Le Petit Théâtre de Lausanne (premiered October 25, 2017 at Le Petit Théâtre de Lausanne), JungspundFestival St. Gallen. A co-production within the framework of the Fonds Jeune Public of Reso - RéseauDanse Suisse. Supported by Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council.

SUPPORT AND PARTNERS
City of Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council,Loterie Romande, Sandoz Family Foundation, Migros Pour-cent culturel. La Cie Philippe Saire is resident company at Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne.