Premiere: Friday 7 September 2007, Lantaren/Venster, Rotterdam
Production period: Thursday 8 to Saturday 31 January 2009
Prayer for inner harmony, freely rendered from Marcus Aurelius
Direction: Hans Tuerlings
Music: Biosphere, Clementi, et al
The title 'Tous les jours, a tous points de vue, on va de mieux en mieux' (“Every day, in every way, we are getting better and better”) refers to a quotation from French chemist Émile Coué who developed autosuggestion as psychotherapy. When a person speaks to his inner self at set times every day, it actually encourages his inner being to become truly stronger and healthier, both physically and mentally.
'Tous les jours, a tous points de vue, on va de mieux en mieux' is an attempt by choreographer Hans Tuerlings to capture something that is elusive; as fleeting as the dance itself. Moments when everything falls into place, a fraction of a second when unexpected connections suddenly reveal themselves in their full glory.
In this piece, as in his other works, Hans Tuerlings strives for an unforced theatrical approach in which dance becomes the vehicle of understanding and comprehension of the everyday, complicated reality. The various scenes, shaped as loose sketches rather than a single storyline, are steered by the writings of emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius, freely interpreted and told by the dancers themselves. Lessons on living, because “if you can live, you can live well”.
His desire for clarity and transparency means that he also demands every movement to exude the utmost truthfulness, the power of simplicity and an absolute naturalness. To achieve his goal, Tuerlings not only draws from the technical skills of the dancers, but also appeals to their strong theatrical presence and their willingness to be themselves. This is a salient point in the conception of a performance where the personal serves to highlight the universal.
This piece, created for Scapino by director Hans Tuerlings was premiered in October 2007 in Rotterdam to an enthusiastic press. The NRC wrote: “The power of Tous les Jours is rooted in the sense of alienation and elusiveness. All honour to Scapino and Tuerlings: the season got off to a perfect start.” Trouw: “Tuerling’s fury is followed by a chastening.”
