NIMIS

NIMIS, it’s more than enough. NIMIS, it’s excessively too much. 

Here, we announce our gluttony, that human desire that drives us to always want more despite what we already have. The dancers go through the piece in the company of this guilty pleasure in a way that makes it as distressing as it is comforting. NIMIS, is this desire to offer a choreographic creation based on our desire to taste and above all to taste more and more.

— Thibault Desaules, October 2023

5 questions to the choreographer

NIMIS, why this title?
Thibault Desaules (TD) – NIMIS comes from Latin and means “too full” or “extremely full”. It’s linked to the idea of gluttony, which is at the origin of the piece. Beyond gluttony, which is very much associated with food, it’s humanity’s excesses that inspire me.

In a few words, what are the intentions behind your creation?
TD – Gluttony, always wanting more, despite what we already have. NIMIS evokes our greedy society, which wants a lot, even too much. It’s a “vice” that’s both distressing and comforting, taking us through a multitude of emotions.

How does it fit into your repertoire?
TD – In all my plays, there’s the same desire to shake things up and ask questions, by taking an offbeat look at our society. I play with the “fourth wall” that separates the performers from the audience, without necessarily breaking it. Spectators are drawn into the collective myths played out on stage.

Can you tell us a little about your work with voices and music?
TD – Valérie Niquet, a public singer and screamer whom I discovered one evening in a bar on the Croix-Rousse, lent her voice to the NIMIS soundtrack. Her powerful voice, full of sincerity, lets her experience shine through. It’s in perfect harmony with this desire to indulge. The music was composed by Benjamin Hutter using key images. We’ve been working closely together on the relationship between music and dance for several pieces now. Our worlds feed off each other, leading to original musical creations.

What kind of audience is your piece aimed at?
TD – All audiences, including the very young. In my opinion, gourmandise is transgenerational. NIMIS is experienced in an offbeat, excessive way, with big eyes and big mouths. Everyone can take part in this feast.