"In 2002 there was the legendary on-site performance of "Waste & Glass" in the Alkmaar waste disposal station.
Thereafter came the theatre version that has been awarded one of the best productions all season.
In this show Conny Janssen sets emotions created by dance and music opposite to the bleak efficiency from the current disposable society.
Her poetic style in the choreography in combination with the dynamic music by Philip Glass performed live on stage by Cello Octet Amsterdam,
is the prominent way to represent this."
Waste&Glass has a special stage formation: before every performance we climb upon a scaffolding, 4 meters high above the stage and the dancers, and without any barrier at the front… That means we have the best view of all spectators, but some of us have to overcome some height fear first. The scaffolding shakes and creaks when someone goes up. While playing one looks right into the abyss, your own sweat drops disappear into the depth and burst on the adamant dance floor.
Besides, we can’t just get off, hence the survival kits with a set of spare strings, batteries for the in-ear monitor and an extra bow just in case…
We are rehearsing Facades, a beautiful piece with many pure intervals and long legato phrases. Conny Janssen calls: “The dancers are luxuriating in the fine music! It doesn’t work! It needs more agression. Could you maybe play very nasty?” Initially with doubts (it says legato, doesn’t it? isn’t this supposed to be a beautiful piece?) we start hacking and scraping. And it works!
On the day before the first try out there is suddenly some panic: one of the dancers is down, screaming. The rehearsal is interrupted and the injured dancer is brought to the first-aid. A drama just before the première. Diagnosis: a badly injured ankle. She is not allowed to walk for three days, let alone dance. The other seven dancers take up her role very well, but we miss Lola! Hopefully she is able to dance again next week!
