Mette Ingvartsen

Delving into Dance

Mette Ingvartsen, photo by Danny Willems

Mette Ingvartsen is a Danish choreographer and dancer based in Brussels. Mette’s work also crosses over in to writing and research, holding a PhD in choreography from UNIARTS, Lunds University in Sweden. Mette established her company in 2003 and has since toured throughout Europe, US, Canada and Australia

Mette’s work often combines choreographic practices with theoretical backgrounds related to human interaction and perception. As a result her work is a combination of dance movement and other disciplines including visual art, technology and theoretical frameworks. This interview particularly focuses on The Red Pieces; a body of work that explore the history of sexuality, ideas of nudity, pornography and privacy. In these works the body becomes a site of exploration and inquiry. The works that make up this series include 69 positions (2014), 7 Pleasures (2015), to come (extended) (2017) and 21 pornographies (2017).

to come (extended), photo by Jens Sethzman
to come (extended), photo by Jens Sethzman
to come (extended), photo by Jens Sethzman
69 positions questions the boundaries between private and public. Placing the naked body among the audience. 7 pleasures examines seven notions of pleasure. The third piece to come (extended) is based on to come (2005), an early work for five dancers. to come (extended) is revisited with 15 dancers, and explores the relationship between the private and public space. 21 pornographies looks at the ways in which pornography is thought about in society, including in structures of power beyond sex.

This interview covers a range of topics including the role of sexuality in society, #MeToo, relationship between dancer and audience, nudity and desire, power and ways in which dance can be used to question common narratives and systems (including heteronormativity and the patriarchy).

21 pornographies, photo by Jens Sethzman

Selection of productions:

· Solo negatives (2002)

· Manual Focus (2003)

· Out Of Order (2004)

· 50/50 (2004)

· To come (2005)

· Why We Love Action (2007)

· Speculations (2011)

· The Artificial Nature Project (2012)

· 69 positions (2014)

· 7 pleasures (2015)

· To come (extended) (2017)

· 21 pornographies (2017)

Upcoming touring schedule:

21 pornographies, deSingel, het Theater Festival, Antwerpen, Sep 6-7

21 pornographies, Festival La Bâtie, Geneva, Sep 12-13

21 pornographies, Festival Crossing the Line / Performance Space, New York, Oct 3-5

The Permeable Stage, Performance Space, New York, Oct 7

21 pornographies, MDT, Stockholm, Oct 16-17

to come (extended) Dansens Hus, Stockholm, Oct 19-20

21 pornographies Dampfzentrale, Festival: Tanz Bern, Oct 26-27

to come (extended) Kaaitheater, Brusssels, Nov 16-17

69 positions National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea, Seoul, Nov 22-23

---

Delving into Dance is currently seeking to raise $3500 for access costs. Podcasts are not friendly to deaf people, who are missing out on the vibrancy and diversity of experiences captured in this podcast. Each Episode will cost about $80 to transcribe. Will you be able to help support this initiative? For more information as well as a list of individuals who have already contributed, click here. Your support is appreciated to keep this project going. With your support this wonderful interview has now been transcribed and can be found here.

69 positions, credit Fernanda Tafner
21 pornographies, photo by Jens Sethzman
21 pornographies, photo by Jens Sethzman
21 pornographies, photo by Jens Sethzman
21 pornographies, photo by Jens Sethzman
69 positions, photo by Charles Roussel

---

This episode is part of a season that explores the different ways people understand and use dance to challenge normative assumptions and ideas. Episodes have included Luke George, Chase Johnsey, Phillip Adams, Justin Shoulder, Bruno Isaković and remaining episodes of this season will include the voice of Houston Ballet dancer Harper Watters.