The body has been described as a dancer’s instrument before, but Boris Charmatz’s solo performance SOMNOLE takes this notion one step further, his body becoming a musical instrument. Charmatz dances to his own whistle, elevating the themes of his performance.

SOMNOLE depicts the fragile state between asleep and awake, when the body is both passive and active. It examines our involuntary twitching and retreating thoughts in the moments just before sleep. The melodies that escape from Charmatz’s lips are like the impulses of the subconscious and are inspired by Ennio Morricone, Billie Eilish, Mozart and even birdsong.

Whistling is breathing, and Charmatz’s breath becomes the minimalist melody of the performance to which his movements must adapt. “This is a tightrope walker’s dance, where the body movement affects the instrument,” Charmatz has said of the work.

The event is organised by Helsinki Festival.

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