Chants de mariage I & II (1991 - )

Lansac, Regis: Scene from Meryl Tankard's 'Chants de mariage II', Meryl Tankard Company, 1992

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Danced by the Meryl Tankard Company, Chants de mariage premiered as part of the Australian Theatre Festival at the Playhouse, Canberra, on 5 November 1991. With choreography by Meryl Tankard, the work was a dialogue about ritual, secrets, deception and sacred vows. Its original cast was Meryl Tankard, Jennifer Barry, Rochelle Carmichael, Sarah Chifley, Paige Gordon and Tuula Roppola.

Tankard subsequently reworked the original piece and expanded the concept with a second section. The whole became Chants de mariage I & II. In this new form it premiered at the Adelaide Festival of Arts, at the Odeon Theatre on 15 March 1992. Part one presented a satirical and cutting view of marriage, part two looked at marriage as a spiritual union. Cast for the reworked production consisted of Meryl Tankard, Jennifer Barry, Rochelle Carmichael, Sarah Chifley, Paige Gordon, Tuula Roppola, Amanda Rogers and Michelle Ryan.

The work took its name from traditional wedding songs taken in particular from Chants de mariage et chants de danses rustiques by the Armenian composer Komitas. Other music included traditional music from Hungary, Brittany, Provence and Bulgaria. The work was designed by Tankard and Regis Lansac.

See also: Gordon, Paige ; Lansac, Regis ; Meryl Tankard Company ; Roppola, Tuula ; Tankard, Meryl

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Find more about Chants de mariage I & II in:

• Internet - Google
• Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
• Pictures - Picture Australia