Mont Ventoux

Following the creation ‘Kafka’ for the Hessian State Ballet, the Spanish collective Kor’sia returns to Wiesbaden with ‘Mont Ventoux’, taking Petrarch’s work as its inspiration for a multimedia dance piece. Written in the simple form of a letter, the Italian poet gives an account of climbing the mountain in 1336. At the same time he also describes the ascent of humanity and its journey, leaving the dark years of the Middle Ages behind to make way for a paradigm shift to the coming world of humanism. Seven centuries later, in an age of increasing speed, contemporary humanity also sees the need for urgent change. The established structures of our society are dissoving as we witness our transition to an uncertain future. “We must awake from our lethargy and abandon our furrow!” Petrarch warned then. His words become a mantra for Kor’sia: “Climb the mountain. Let us reclaim our values. Conduct a mass philanthropic exercise. Re-focussing on humanity and nature.” How better to achieve this than through dance?