'May B' conveys Beckett's absurdism through joys and sorrows of human existence

French choreographer Maguy Marin's representative work, "May B," will be staged at the Shanghai International Dance Center Theater this weekend.

The piece, created in 1981, reconstructs Samuel Beckett's absurdism using distinctive bodily language and complex emotional expression.

It is full of dramatic tension and expresses the joys and sorrows of humanity in an abstract manner, investigating eternal issues of human life and relationships. After over four decades, it is still regarded as a seminal piece in dance history.

"Dancers tend to do more than what has been choreographed on stage; however, Maguy wants us to execute the movements with absolute precision," said Isabelle Missal, the most veteran dancer of Compagnie Maguy Marin.

"Perhaps this precision is exactly what sparks unexpected moments for the dance and for the audience witnessing it," she added.

The ten dancers on stage embody a collective of Beckettian characters. Covered head-to-toe in white body paint and dressed in ill-fitting nightgowns, they shuffle forward in unison with exacting movements.

They alternate between marching mechanically to the rhythm of whistles and drumbeats and expressing love and hatred – sharing birthday cakes, embracing and kissing one moment, then fighting and cursing the next.

"The birthdays signify the passage of time," Missal explained, offering her interpretation of certain scenes.

"We gain a year of life, yet simultaneously lose a year from what remains. The purpose of the layered makeup is to reveal how time transforms people," she added. "The makeup fades faster on some dancers than on others, hinting at time's unequal impact."

The dancers of Compagnie Maguy Marin come from a variety of professional backgrounds, such as hip-hop, ballet, and contemporary dance.

"For Maguy, technique is hardly the sole criterion," said dancer Kostia Chaix. "She selects dancers who enjoy collaborating with her and who are willing to push beyond their comfort zones at any moment."

Chaix also clarified that dancers don't need to read Beckett's works before rehearsing "May B."

"Yet, the sense of absurdity in Beckett's writing has profoundly inspired our stage performance," he said. "Working with Maguy requires us to engage deeply with the outside world. Books, films, and newspapers can all serve as sources of inspiration."

Performance info

Dates: July 4-5, 7:30pm

Tickets: 80-680 yuan

Venue: Shanghai International Dance Center Theater 上海国际舞蹈中心

Address: 1650 Hongqiao Rd 虹桥路1650号