Artistic director and choreographer of the Compagnie Illicite Bayonne, Fábio Lopez was inspired by his native country, Portugal, and other Latin cultures in Triple Bill, which will be presented in Bayonne on March 23. “Triple Bill is a term used in dance to designate three different pieces with three choreographic universes” specifies Fábio Lopez.
Voluble in body and speech, the choreographer chose Bayonne for a “three in one” evening, namely an original creation by the National Ballet of Portugal but also works by the Spaniard Nacho Duato and the Italian Mauro De Candia, danced by his Compagnie Illicite. It’s all the spirit of the south condensed into an evening of dancing. “For me, Nacho Duato is a major reference in neo-classical dance; these are my influences and I see in them a form of heritage, with an immense choreographic heritage” explains Fábio Lopez. “Bullfighting will also be tackled with the work Meninos created in 2015 by Mauro de Candia, but extended at my request for my dancers. I like this rather ironic way of describing a macho bullfighter ready for confrontation. This shows that dance touches other worlds”.
Go further than expected. This is the doctrine of Fábio Lopez, symbol of resilience. After a serious injury, he was able to rebuild himself by becoming a choreographer and classical dance teacher. Make others dance, no matter what. It is this example of tenacity that Roselyne Bachelot, the former Minister of Culture, evoked when she presented the young choreographer with the insignia of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres last August, in Bayonne. “This award makes me want to go even further,” confides the neo-classical choreographer.
With his Bayonne dance company and his workshops as a teacher, Fábio Lopez shines throughout the world. “Dance is also about training the public in a way of looking and arousing their curiosity”.