Song and Dance – by Mark Tompkins

Mark Tompkins is an American choreographer whose been working in France for years and whose performances are present at many European and world’s festivals. His work is compared by many to the young choreographic stars such as Sasha Waltz, Jerome Belom or the older Marie Chouinard.
One of his most personal shows ‘Song and Dance’ deals with his perception of the body as a mask that sometimes should be hidden, and other times naked and revealed.
‘Song and Dance’ talks about the artists who, step by step, peeps out of and exits his role on the stage. By taking off his make up and the costume he presents to the public the private sphere where illness is hidden, but also life. The experience of the show reminds one of the voyeurism of birth, in spite of the obvious deterioration and collapse of the dreams of final liberation.

From the series “Backstage – Are you ready for Dance? The World’s newest Dance Performances”