Installation art and contemporary dance are a match made in heaven. Collaborations between visual artists and dancers are becoming more frequent, and so far every performance I have seen where dance and installation were combined have been absolutely delightful. Yesterday’s event at Circa was no exception.

The cerebral, immersive installations by artist Pierre Gallais currently on show at Circa (read my earlier review here) were invaded by three contemporary dancers, who brought the dimension of movement to bear on Gallais’ work. The static array of red and green laser lines which slice through Circa’s large exhibition room were brought to life by the slow, deliberate movements of Rosie Contant, Elise Bergeron, and Audrey Rochette. They explored the different qualities of the light: the red beams attached themselves to the dancer’s bodies, flowing along their outstretched limbs, looping around their waists and thighs, tracing their silhouettes. But the green laser beams, when interrupted by a hand or even a finger, erupt into a bright flash of light like an over-amped firefly. Playing with the lines and points of light, the dancers caught the random stretches of laser light and then allowed them to disappear. Red lines revealed themselves in the inky darkness as bodies unfolded, only to vanish as the dancer stepped aside by an inch.

After about 20 minutes we moved into the smaller exhibition room with the installation made of fluorescent wire. The dancers were allowed to move into the installation, penetrating the delicate web of glowing lines. Again the movements were careful and deliberate, interacting with the large geometric form which inhabits the room.

The performance brought an element of playfulness to an otherwise quite serious artwork, and I hope that Circa will continue to invite performers to interact with future exhibitions.

Centre d’Exposition Circa, space 444
Pierre Gallais
MatHérialisation
June 11 – July 9, 2011
www.circa-art.com