BALLET BY STÉPHEN DELATTRE FROM MICHAEL ENDE’S NOVEL
IN 1973 MICHAEL ENDE PUBLISHED THE FAIRYTALE NOVEL "MOMO" WHICH IMMEDIATELY BECAME A WORLDWIDE SUCCESS FOR THE YOUTH AUDIENCE AND SEPARATELY AMONGST AN ENTHUSIASTIC ADULT FOLLOWING. THE LATTER WAS DUE TO IT’S HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW WHICH EXPLORES DEEP THOUGHT AND TRUTHFUL EMOTION.
NOW, CHOREOGRAPHER STÉPHEN DELATTRE EXPRESSES THE STORY OF MOMO IN HIS POETIC, SENSITIVE AND PERSONAL DANCE LANGUAGE. IN THIS NEW CHOREOGRAPHIC WORK, LITTLE MOMO MEETS AND GROWS WITH HER FRIENDS AND TOGETHER THEY FORM A STRONG BOND. AFTER A NERVE-WRACKING HUNT AGAINST TIME AND WITH THE HELP FROM KASSIOPEIA AND MASTER HORA, MOMO WALKS COURAGEOUSLY TO DEFEAT THE GREY MEN AND THEIR SINISTERLY CALCULATED PLANS.
"LIFE HOLDS ONE GREAT BUT QUITE COMMONPLACE MYSTERY. THOUGH SHARED BY EACH OF US AND KNOWN TO ALL, SELDOM RATES A SECOND THOUGHT. THAT MYSTERY, WHICH MOST OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED AND NEVER THINK TWICE ABOUT, IS TIME. CALENDARS AND CLOCKS EXIST TO MEASURE TIME, BUT THAT SIGNIFIES LITTLE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT AN HOUR CAN SEEM AS ETERNITY OR PASS IN A FLASH, ACCORDING TO HOW WE SPEND IT. TIME IS LIFE ITSELF, AND LIFE RESIDES IN THE HUMAN HEART."
MOMO´S DRESS IS INSPIRITED BY THE TIME FLOWER, WHICH PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE STORY. HER DRESS IS MADE UP OF FIVE THIN LAYERS, THAT CAN BE DRESSED ONE OVER ANOTHER. EXCEPT FOR THE DEEPEST LAYER, WHICH SHARES THE SAME STRONG COLOUR AS HER HAIR SHOWING HER INNER STRENGTH AND ASSERTIVE CHARACTER, I HAVE CHOSEN SOFT GENTLE COLOURS TO UNDERLINE HER DELICATE HEART.
THE SEAMS ARE ASYMMETRICAL TO SHOW HER INDIVIDUALITY. MOMO´S FRIEND BEBBO, WHO IS A STREET CLEANER, TAKES ON THE ROLE OF MOMO’S FATHER AND IS THEREFORE DRESSED IN SERIOUS, BROWN COLOURS. HIS JACKET HAS BEEN MADE OUT OF SCRAPS FROM THE COSTUMES WORN BY OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE STORY THAT FELL ON THE FLOOR DURING THE PRODUCTION OF MOMO. HER OTHER FRIEND GIGI WEARS A BRIGHT BLUE COSTUME AS HE LOVES TO DREAM AND SPIN AROUND NEW STORIES. THE GROUP DANCERS, WHO ARE MOMO’S FRIENDS, ARE ALSO CLOTHED IN PASTEL DRESSES OR TOPS WITH TROUSERS. IN PART TWO OF THE STORY, WHEN THEY ARE INFECTED BY TIME COLLECTING THE GRAY MEN, THEIR COSTUMES HAVE A GRAY COLOUR GRADING.
THE GRAY MEN IN THEIR PERFECTLY FITTED, GLOSSY AND CONSTRUCTED COSTUMES ARE ANONYMOUS AND ARE A BIG CONTRAST TO MOMO. THE DOLLS THAT THE GRAY MEN TRY TO GIVE MOMO AS A PRESENT TO WIN HER SYMPATHY ARE LARGE SCALE BARBIES. LIKE THE GRAY MEN THEY ARE DRESSED IN A FULL-BODY TRICOT THAT GOES OVER THEIR FACES MAKING THEM ANONYMOUS. WITH THEIR PERFECTLY STIFF AND PINK DRESSES THEY APPEAR GROTESQUE AND SCARY. HORA IS DRESSED IN SKIN TONES WITH SOFT GOLDEN LACE. CASSIOPEIA IS DRESSED LIKE AN ANGEL AND LEADS MOMO THROUGH THE STORY.
