by Marco Goecke, associate choreographer
choreography: wir sagen uns dunkles by marco goecke
photo: rahi rezvani
“Being a dancer with NDT was always my biggest dream. I have had ties to both the city of The Hague and the dance company since I was seventeen, as I trained as a dancer at The Hague’s Royal Conservatoire. My dream of dancing with NDT never came true, but the company has been a constant presence in my life, one to which I’ve returned time and again. When I think of NDT, I’m filled with feelings of warmth and affection: Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Hans van Manen, Paul Lightfoot and Sol León: they were the idols of my youth. I purchased tickets from the school for ƒ3.50 at the time. I often felt lonely as a student, but the performances were always such a highlight. I remember saving up money to buy one of those blue NDT T-shirts during the intermission.
This picture shows a scene from my piece Wir sagen uns Dunkles, which I created for NDT in 2017. I associate this image with a sense of uncertainty. We always want to see a person’s face first, to read their emotions. What used to be the back, are now often the hand: We observe the world around us through our fingers and are reluctant to see what’s out there, or choose to see only fragments. We cover our eyes with our fingers as if they were a fan. Being present and not being present simultaneously; being so close to the dancers, yet far away; Having the courage to do something, while at the same time fearing intimacy. I would like to hide, be present yet absent, and watching hands as if they were eyes, as if they were lips, and hoping for love every day.
With love to NDT. Happy sixtieth!”
