Thomas Lebrun, Another Look at Memory, The Coronet Theatre

Thomas Lebrun is one of France’s most innovative contemporary choreographers. His approach to dance is based on, in his own words, ‘bodies that tell stories.’

Lebrun founded his own company, Illico, in 2000, and he picks dancers that, like him, ‘relish…the pure joy of being a body that tells a tale.'

For his first visit to London Thomas Lebrun chose Another Look at Memory, set to Another Look at Harmony, a choral piece by the American minimalist composer Philip Glass.

Another Look at Memory is a trip through 10 years of choreography that creates a new memory of the past. It’s performed by three Lebrun veteran dancers – Raphaël Cottin, Anne-Emmanuelle Deroo and Anne-Sophie Lancelin – all three well attuned to Lebrun’s choreographic language, all with bodies inhabited by those very memories.

The dancers respond to every detail of Glass’ music with delicacy and precision, their expressive bodies effortlessly conveying the choreographer’s unique style.

Thomas Lebrun was once described as slipping like an eel between adjectives and categories, which makes it quite difficult to put his style of movement into words. As a dancer he performed with a variety of companies, and his body of work is excitingly varied, though some themes recur.

His pieces range from disco-inflected to deeply romantic, covering autobiographical detail, love and gender. Lebrun is currently based at Tours, where he is artistic director of the Centre Choréographique National.

Post-show discussion: Friday, 25 October