Ritual & secreto is a production in which dance and music figure prominently. Its secret lies in the way the ritualistic dance parts and the closely connected music, song, and rhythmic elements work together.
The choreography of "Las Santas de Zurbarán" in the first part is based on the famous series of paintings of women by the Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán (1598 - 1664). His paintings are commonly referred to as "Masterpieces of Introversion." According to legend, the paintings show individual women who have a difficult lot in life. However, Zurbarán has a magical way of hiding the women's suffering. He paints the women dressed in sumptuous garb made from the most elegant fabrics. Despite their rigid postures the women emanate an incredible physical strength. Their bodies, frozen in mid-motion, seem like mute reflections of their own inner life, symbolizing dignity and presence and now represented in solo dances. The mysterious silence of these women saints ends in a dance of revelation that breaks the silence.
In the second part, titled "Nocturno", the art of flamenco in its original ritualistic form of expression, i.e. a complex and highly concentrated dialogue between dance and live music, discovers its inner secret.
Flamenco is the art that seeks itself during the seemingly endless night.
The cante jondo and the cante chico - the grave-sounding and the lighter-sounding flamenco - sometimes act in unison and at other times interact with each other, just like the dark night and the brightly lit moon. The common ritual of song, rhythm, and music challenges the dancers to try new and bold improvisations.

Premiere, 18.12.2015, Bern, Dampfzentrale, Turbinensaal

Video

Rundschau Ausgabe Nord

original in German

Isabel Steiner Peterhans, Rundschau Ausgabe Nord, 09.02.2017

Albi Danza

original in Spanish

Mercedes Albi, Albi Danza, 28.11.2016

Stuttgarter Zeitung

original in German
(...) No description will do justice to this flamenco masterpiece performed by a dozen outstanding dancers and musicians, which, for the duration of two hours, captivates the audience in a world of intense emotions and stunning constellations.
(...) For 30 years, Swiss choreographer Brigitta Luisa Merki and her ensemble Flamencos en route have been a model for the openness that allowed this dance to emerge in the south of Spain in the first place. Merki's new production is another example of a work in which the dialogue spans across several epochs.

Andrea Kachelriess, Stuttgarter Zeitung, 11.11.2016

Stuttgarter Nachrichten und Stuttgarter Zeitung

original in German

Brigitte Jähnigen, Stuttgarter Nachrichten und Stuttgarter Zeitung, 04.11.2016

Esslinger Zeitung, Kultur

original in German

Angela Reinhardt, Esslinger Zeitung, Kultur, 04.11.2016

tanz, Fachzeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance

original in German
(...) Contrary to other choreographers, who tend to repeat themselves after 30 years of working in their field, Brigitta Luisa Merki manages to penetrate ever deeper into the essence of her art. With every new production created for her ensemble, Flamencos en route, the Swiss choreographer presents the flamenco in a different light (...)

Angela Reinhardt, tanz, Fachzeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance, 01.11.2016

Stuttgarter Nachrichten / Stuttgarter Zeitung - Kulturreport

original in German

Petra Mostbacher-Dix, Stuttgarter Nachrichten / Stuttgarter Zeitung - Kulturreport, 01.11.2016

Rete Due Cultura

orignial in Italian

Tiziana Conte, Rete Due Cultura, 28.09.2016

Tessiner Zeitung

original in German

Tessiner Zeitung, 23.09.2016

Der Landanzeiger

original in German

Der Landanzeiger, 22.09.2016

Extra, Corriere del Ticino

original in Italian

Extra, Corriere del Ticino, 22.09.2016

Basler Zeitung

original in German
The Beauty of Melancholy. (...) Every last detail is perfectly thought out. (...)

Clara Vuille-dit-Bille, Basler Zeitung, 20.09.2016

Aargauer Zeitung

original in German
«Masterly Conversations by the Choreographer.»
Brigitta Luisa Merki's «Ritual & Secreto» performed in the Alte Reithalle in Aarau presents a new dance language. (...)

Elisabeth Feller, Aargauer Zeitung, 20.09.2016

Schweiz am Sonntag

original in German

Schweiz am Sonntag, 18.09.2016

Basler Zeitung

original in German

Clara Vuille-dit-Bille, Basler Zeitung, 16.09.2016

Kanal K

original in German

Anita Huber, Kanal K, 15.09.2016

Brigitte

original in German

Brigitte, 14.09.2016

Annabelle

original in German

Annabelle, 01.09.2016

andá

original in German

Sonja L. Bauer, andá, 01.02.2016

Tages-Anzeiger

original in German

Marianne Mühlemann, Tages-Anzeiger, 28.12.2015

Der BUND

original in German

Flamencos en route:
A Hypnotic Dialogue with the World -
A Feast both for the Eyes and the Heart:
Brigitta Luisa Merki's ensemble celebrates yet another triumph with "Ritual & Secreto". (...)

Marianne Mühlemann, Der BUND, 21.12.2015

NZZ

original in German

A Sacred Elegance
Of all the choreographies Flamencos en route has thus far created, "Ritual & Secreto" - currently premiering in Bern - has to be the most characteristically Spanish one; it is certainly one of the most captivating ones. There are not very many Swiss artists in the world of dance who can claim to have enjoyed a reputation beyond the Swiss borders for the past several decades. Brigitta Luisa Merki is one of the few exceptions. (...)

Isabelle Jakob, NZZ, 21.12.2015

Aargauer Zeitung

original in German

Sonja L. Bauer, Aargauer Zeitung, 19.12.2015

KulturStattBern, das Kulturblog des «Bund»

original in German

Milena Krstic, KulturStattBern, das Kulturblog des «Bund», 19.12.2015

Der Bund, Berner Woche

original in German

Marianne Mühlemann, Der Bund, Berner Woche, 18.12.2015

Berner Zeitung

original in German

Sonja L. Bauer, Berner Zeitung, 17.12.2015

art-tv

original in German

art-tv, 17.12.2015

Fachjournalistin Sonja L. Bauer

original in German

Fachjournalistin Sonja L. Bauer, 10.12.2015

Der Bund

original in German

Der Bund, 09.12.2015