Contemporary Performance: Smashed2

SMASHED2 by Gandini Juggling (UK)CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE | NEW CIRCUSJuly 17 & 18 at PS21 PavilionSmashed2 goes for the juggler. Gandini Juggling’s irreverent sequel to Smashed is a tale of retribution, the dark art of juggling revisited. Turning the tables on one of the most celebrated contemporary circus pieces of the last decade, Sean Gandini and Kati Ylä-Hokkala propel the cast of seven women and two men onto a trajectory that disrupts the rigid conventions of etiquette, dress, and body language. This time the nine performers share the stage with eighty oranges and seven watermelons, and once again they borrow elements of the gestural choreography of Pina Bausch combined with intricate patterns and cascades of solo and ensemble juggling. The result is a new hybrid of juggling and dance, performed in meticulous unison with split-second timing. A hilarious, inventive, character-driven work akin to dance theater that challenges our ideas about what contemporary juggling can be.“Juggling becomes flights of inspired poetry, musical choreography with strong danceelements, crazy-comedy surrealism, breathtakingly dexterous virtuosity, darkly absurdistdrama. Gandini opens windows in the mind."– Alastair MaCaulay in The New York Times"The smiles keep coming as Smashed2 explores temptation, conflict, lost love and—juiciest of all—revenge, with the men always on the receiving end." – Dancing TimesABOUT THE COMPANYGANDINI JUGGLINGFounded in 1992 by world-renowned jugglers Sean Gandini and Kati Ylä-Hokkala. Gandini Juggling continues to be at the vanguard of contemporary circus, reinventing and reinvigorating the art form for the 21st century. The company celebrates juggling in all its facets, exploring not just what juggling is, but what juggling can be. Ferociously prolific, the ever-evolving ensemble is constantly creating new works, which range from radical art-juggling fusions to accessible theatrical performances, from choreographic studies to specially commissioned routines. Gandini Juggling stands “at the forefront of British Circus’ quiet revolution.” (The Guardian)The company has presented over 5,000 shows in 50 countries and continues to perform at many of the world’s most prestigious festivals and venues— French museums, German opera houses, tents in Argentina, theaters in Lebanon, and more. At home, the Gandinis have played festivals and theaters including London’s Royal Opera House, The Royal National Theatre, and with the English National Opera in Philip Glass’s Akhnaten. After more than 30 years, Gandini Juggling continues to create some of the genre’s most vibrant and challenging performances.In search of inspiration for new work, the company collaborates with innovators in many disciplines, among them, composers, ballet choreographers, fashion designers, computer programmers, sound designers, set makers, and mathematicians. They choreograph juggling patterns for canonical classical works and music specially composed for them and performed by symphony orchestras.At leading circus schools, members of Gandini Juggling teach workshops, create performances, and support the next generation of circus artists. For a wider audience, Gandini Juggling publishes their own books and DVDs, to promote appreciation of the beautiful possibilities of juggling for practitioners and the public.