Drumming

Drumming 1998 is one of Anne Teresa De Keersmaekers most iconic choreographies written to the eponymous minimalistic percussion score by Steve Reich The music starts with a single rhythmic motif which subsequently multiplies and unfolds into a rich cornucopia of textures including drums woodwinds brass and voice Reich here ramps up the technique already used in his earlier composition Piano Phase through minor tempo accelerations the musicians almost imperceptibly push their unison out of joint resulting in a neverending volley of canons In the dance the choreographic complexity was devised in a similar fashion a single movement phrase serves as the foundation for an infinite number of variations across time and space When the music stops and the bodies come to a halt the audience realizes what they have witnessed a wave of pure dance and pure sound a vortex of vital energy