Stria

Reviewed by Paula Citron
October 17, 2011

Stria
Chartier Danse
Choreographed and performed by Marie-Josée Chartier
Directed and dramaturged by Ruth Madoc-Jones
Enwave Theatre
Oct. 14 and 15, 2011

Stria is a clever name for an autobiographical dance piece. On one hand it means the lines in rocks that denote age. On the other, the muscles of the body that affect motion.

Mare-Josée Chartier’s Stria is a thoughtful work that explores memory. Like all of Chartier’s pieces, Stria is not linear. Rather, when Chartier goes into the studio, she starts with concrete incidences that transform into abstract physical and visual images.

She is an intellectual dancesmith who probes deeply. The audience’s role is to go with her into the imagination and experience her journey on a spiritual and emotional level, rather than perceive the actual meaning. There is also a cunning little hand puppet, a Charter clone, that adds to the mystery.

Chartier always surrounds herself with a strong creative team, and the look and sound of the show is superb.

It is always a pleasure to see a Chartier work – made by a craftsman and radiating artistic integrity.