Pite's Choreography: Human, Dangerous, Beautiful

Award-winning Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite is renowned for her deeply humanistic dance works. Founded in Vancouver in 2002, her company Kidd Pivot, along with creations for major ballet companies, showcases a versatile artistic vision.

Pite's choreography often delves into the complexities of human relationships and confronts significant contemporary issues. These include refugee crises, the climate crisis, and political struggles, frequently employing innovative text-based elements. She also explores the powerful effect of massed dancers moving in unison.

Reflecting on her career, Pite highlights the unique nature of dance. She believes its inherent impermanence—the fact that dance always vanishes—is precisely where its true power lies. This ephemeral quality imbues her works with a profound and unique impact.

Pite's piece 'Body & Soul' exemplifies her exploration of how meaning shifts with embodiment. Different groupings and interactions of dancers can transform the perception of identical textual cues, revealing layers of conflict, intimacy, or power dynamics. The work highlights the transformative potential of performance.

Future performances of 'Body & Soul' by English National Ballet are scheduled for Sadler's Wells in London from March 19 to 28, and at Theatre Royal Plymouth from April 30 to May 2. Pite's approach to choreography, while sometimes daunting with large ensembles, ultimately energizes her through collaborative human connection.