perlas peregrinas - The title of this choreography is a reference to the legendary pearl called "La Peregrina", which once traveled from the Spanish Court to many royal jewel cases all over the world. However, it was not so much its travels around the world that gave the famous pearl its sobriquet "La Peregrina" (the pilgrim), but rather its unusual shape; "peregrino" also means unique and capricious. The pearls of this anniversary production represent unique and precious choreographic jewels, which need to be discovered anew. While Choreographer Brigitta Luisa Merki looks back on the most precious moments of her 30-year pilgrimage as an artist, she concurrently explores new choreographic paths leading to a wide-open, vibrant future for her company. Merki does this by juxtaposing legendary Spanish characters like Don Quixote and Don Juan from choreographies created by Susana with her own new and contemporary scenarios and images. Old Spanish lullabies and contemporary dancing mothers create new compositions of sound.
Just like pearls take time to grow, it takes a lot of time and patience to develop an art form into a product of high quality. Much skill is required to grow pearls, and it takes years and many protective layers before the coat of mother-or-pearl gives the pearl its density, color and shape. Some pearls grow naturally, without human interference. They have been told a special secret, just like good dance has. Rediscovering and revealing this mystery lies at the heart of this choreography about a pilgrimage.

Video

Rundschau

original in German

Friderike Saiger, Rundschau, 05.11.2015

CREDO, LGT Journal für Vermögenskultur, Carte Blanche

Article as PDF

Lilo Weber, CREDO, LGT Journal für Vermögenskultur, Carte Blanche, 01.10.2015

anda! Zeitschrift für Flamenco

original in German
Flamencos en route - 30 Years en Route
In 1984, Brigitta Luisa Merki, a former master class student of the legendary Bernese flamenco dancer Susana, mustered all her courage and founded the dance company Flamencos en route. At the time, Brigitta probably had no idea that the company would last 30 years and explore the art of the flamenco in ever greater depth. Today, Flamencos en route's productions regularly bring audiences to their feet in sold-out concert halls both in Switzerland and abroad.
(...) Merki's 30 Flamencos en route productions prove that, even as early as 30 years ago, her artistry was far ahead of its time. Merki has expanded the flamenco, be it by using instruments from classical or world music for instance or by modernizing the dance and venturing into the abstract, only to return to pure flamenco before too long. It is this balance between the different art forms and Merki's ability to let her imagination run free that make this dance company so attractive. (...)
(...) The time before and after the anniversary tour was no different. Whether in Switzerland or Germany, her productions show her enormous artistic intuition, her experience, and her skill and knowledge when working with other first-rate artists. The dance company touches and moves the audience in an integral way, absolutely delightfully. And as soon as a performance ends, Merki presents a new production. Where does this woman find her inexhaustible energy? (...)
(...) What this artist does for the flamenco is remarkable and commendable and will enter into the annals of flamenco history. It is as if the choreographer drew her energy directly from the essence of this great art. (...)

Sonja L. Bauer, anda! Zeitschrift für Flamenco, 01.03.2015

Stuttgarter Nachrichten

only available in German

Anne Abelein, Stuttgarter Nachrichten, 08.01.2015

Esslinger Zeitung, Kultur

only available in German

Von Angela Reinhardt, Esslinger Zeitung, Kultur, 31.12.2014

Der Bund

only available in German

Marianne Mühlemann, Der Bund, 29.12.2014

Berner Zeitung, Kultur

only available in German

Sonja L. Bauer, Berner Zeitung, Kultur, 23.12.2014

Der kleine Bund, Berner Woche

only available in German

Nina Scheu, Der kleine Bund, Berner Woche, 18.12.2014

Tages-Anzeiger, Kultur & Gesellschaft

original in German

Nina Scheu, Tages-Anzeiger, Kultur & Gesellschaft, 03.12.2014

Tanz - Zeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance

original in German
(...) The level-headed Swiss artist develops her multi-layered productions from the material at hand. The opening to so-called "contaminations" from every angle, which have occurred in classical ballet productions for a century are relatively new to flamenco. In the flamenco, these outside influences have only been applied for a few decades and thus still excite the audiences.
(...) Eloquent in her own vocabulary and far beyond, the choreographer introduces foreign movements into the highly stylized code of the flamenco as an unsettling contrast, a recognizable quotation, or - often done very organically - as the only natural form of movement at the moment.
(...) Here as well, Brigitta Luisa Merki ranks among the masters of her craft, choreography: She only works with strong-willed personalities. Each one of her outstanding dancers and musicians contributes his or her own different, individual nuances to her creations.
"... y que más!" is the motto of her anniversary season: "what other than flamenco!".
(...) It is probably the only way to stage three complete and very diverse productions in a six-month period, in addition to producing a piece for Martin Schläpfer's Ballet am Rhein in March 2015. Merki shares her compatriot's love for pushing the limits beyond the originally acquired dance language and for experimenting with different types of shoes; in her productions, bare feet perform next to pointe shoes and loudly clacking flamenco heels. Schläpfer insisted on having her bring her own dancers and musicians. "He made it very clear: Come with your people. It will feel as if we had been taken onto an island, no doubt very exciting."
(...) The curiosity is mutual. (...)

Angela Reinhardt, Tanz - Zeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance, 27.11.2014

Oltner Tagblatt

only available in German

Madeleine Schüpfer, Oltner Tagblatt, 21.11.2014

Sonderbeilage Stuttgarter Zeitung/Stuttgarter Nachrichten

original PDF in German
"Flamenco is so much more"
... From the very beginning, Flamencos en route's Artistic Director intended to break the mold. She did not want to limit her exploration of this Spanish dance form to dance and music exclusively. Instead, she wanted to include other artistic genres by working with freelance artists from various fields. As a result, choreographic and musical experiments entering into a dialogue with other art forms have been and still are what you would expect from Flamencos en route.
... "My quest to discover new meanings in the rich traditions of the flamenco dance and to extract relevant insights from the vocabulary of this Spanish dance for today's audience puts me in a position similar to that of an exile". The company's anniversary production is appropriately titled "... y que más!". This is a sign of great self-confidence since "y que más" means "what else!".
... The top-class ensemble is more motivated than ever, Merki enthuses. "I still have lots of new ideas, and my desire to create art is endless". As Hilde Domin, the poet whose poems still accompany the choreographer, once said: "We planted our foot in the air / and it carried us."

Petra Mostbacher-Dix, Sonderbeilage Stuttgarter Zeitung/Stuttgarter Nachrichten, 07.11.2014

Neue Luzerner Zeitung

original PDF in German
Seduction by every means possible. Creativity at its best. The Flamencos en route dancers enthrall the audience with their technique and costumes.
... Don Juan surrenders to the individual dance styles of his muses, and the sparks start to fly briefly and intensely on stage.
... At that moment, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza appear in the semi-darkness. The transition from mischievous eroticism to touching humor is perfect.

Edith Arnold, Neue Luzerner Zeitung, 30.10.2014

Der Landbote

original PDF in German
Dance Pearls Newly Enchased
The title alludes to "la peregrina", a striking, unique pearl that made its way from Central America to the Spanish Court, to various members of royal families, and even to Liz Taylor. Roving around and drawing attention fit the description of what Flamencos en route does. The ensemble's latest production resembles a precious necklace. This necklace is composed of unique old jewels and recently created treasures, juxtaposed for contrast and altered in a way that showcases the essence of each precious element.
Breathtaking gems, reminiscent of Susana's, bring to life the danced stories of Don Juan and Don Quixote. The master choreographer's superior ability to translate human behavior patterns, encounters, and feelings from the linguistic level to the motional level becomes obvious to everyone. Brigitta Luisa Merki consistently uses means that the art of dance itself offers.
Each character distinguishes him- or herself through the use of certain movements, varying expressive qualities, and rhythmic phrasings. When the seducer encounters the various women, or when the dancing dreamer confronts the singing realist, Merki achieves a rare degree of concentration on stage. Merki's ensemble more than fulfills the choreographer's intentions.
The sounds of Spanish lullabies set circular, internalized kinetic sequences in motion, thus evoking vivid images of mother and child.
The melancholy, slow and Madonna-like gem is followed by an infernal angular one. Almost impossible to surpass in speed and energy, a percussionist and a dancer instigate each other to perform ever more complex rhythms.

Ursula Pellaton, Der Landbote, 21.10.2014

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Kultur

original PDF in German

... "Perlas peregrinas" represents a prime example of Flamencos en route's unique qualities. No doubt inspired by its Artistic Director, Brigitta Luisa Merki, the company has dedicated itself to combining the flamenco with other musical styles, without ever being trapped in the established traditions. This evening is no different, the audience never gets the feeling that the performance needs to be dusted off. Quite the contrary, both the dancing and the music repeatedly venture into the contemporary realm.
Every dancer, singer and musician is featured prominently, not least because the performance takes its time to develop - time to showcase its art.

Isabelle Jakob, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Kultur, 20.10.2014

Aargauer Zeitung, Kultur

original PDF in German
Careful, this Evening is Highly Explosive
This production brims with fine details. No displays of opulence or grand ensemble scenes vie for the audience's attention; instead, intimate encounters between the dancers, singers, and musicians take center stage. What the title suggests becomes reality on stage: one choreographic pearl joins another.
Seduction by every means possible. Creativity at its best. The Flamencos en route dancers enthrall the audience with their technique and costumes.
Don Juan surrenders to the individual dance styles of his muses, and the sparks start to fly briefly and intensely on stage. At that moment, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza appear in the semi-darkness. The transition from mischievous eroticism to touching humor is perfect.

Elisabeth Feller, Aargauer Zeitung, Kultur, 20.10.2014

Kultur-Tipp

original in German

Maya Künzler, Kultur-Tipp, 15.10.2014

Aargauer Zeitung

only available in German

Ursula Burgherr, Aargauer Zeitung, 15.10.2014

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürcher Kultur

original in German
(...) "Peregrina" means female pilgrim. However, "peregrino" can also mean "something strange or extraordinary."
All these meanings apply precisely to Flamencos en route. Ever since Brigitta Luisa Merki founded the company in 1984, it has been exactly as its name suggests: en route. And it has never ceased to surprise us with extraordinary creations. In "perlas peregrinas" the choreographer reverts to pearls from her previous work as well as to pearls from Spanish culture. She revives characters like Don Juan, Don Quixote, or Sancho Panza. Originally, these were themes preferred by Susana, Merki's former teacher and first artistic director of the company.
(...) In 1994, Brigitta Luisa Merki became director of the company and continued exploring the relationship between contemporary and Spanish dance as well as the connections between flamenco and the visual arts and various musical styles.
(...) Merki has long grown beyond everything that is conventional. In 2004, Brigitta Luisa Merki was awarded the Hans-Reinhart ring for her innovative work, and in 1999, she was honored with the Cultural Award of the AZ Media Group.

Lilo Weber, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürcher Kultur, 11.10.2014

Schweizer Illustrierte

original in German

Anina Rether, Schweizer Illustrierte, 29.09.2014

SRF 2 Kultur, Kultur kompakt

30 years Flamencos en route, report from Maya Künzler (in German)

Maya Künzler, SRF 2 Kultur, Kultur kompakt, 23.09.2014

SRF 1 und SRF 1 Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn

SRF 1 Regionaljournal
30 Years Flamencos en route, Interview with Brigitta Luisa Merki (in German)

Andrea Affolter, SRF 1 und SRF 1 Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn, 22.09.2014

Kanal K

30 years Dance Company Flamencos en route, Interview with Brigitta Luisa Merki (in German)

Anita Huber, Kanal K, 21.09.2014

Aargauer Zeitung, Nordwestschweiz, Kultur

original in German

Elisabeth Feller, Aargauer Zeitung, Nordwestschweiz, Kultur, 18.09.2014

Zeitschrift Brigitte

original in German

Zeitschrift Brigitte, 10.09.2014

moving emotions

original in German

moving emotions, 01.09.2014