ELEGY

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>TANGO ART  - Stilling the Centre - A dance elegy

We are engaged in performing a tango in cemetaries and graveyards.


The dancers epitomise “the still centre of the turning world.”    

Noon was the hour of ghosts for the ancient Romans.  In Northern Europe, midnight is the witching hour.  We dance a tango that slows down to absolute motionlessness, using a melody which is systematically slowed down until it becomes a single steady note.  This suggests a stringed instrument - we thought of a double-bass, often included in the tango orchestra. 

At the centre of our stillness, we hold our breath.  Movement gradually returns, both to our dancing and to the music.

Anthony Howell and Jenny Sayer (dancers) - with John White (composer) and Lucy Hare (double-bassist).  Genny and Anthony have commissioned John to create a tango that slows down and he has done this in consultation with the dancers and with Lucy - a tango and classical double-bass player.

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