Collectif A/R was formed around the shared desire to blend live percussion and contemporary dance. In 2012, they launched their first performance, État des lieux, an in-situ dialogue between a drummer, two dancers and outdoor space. For their fourth creation, Thomas Demay and Paul Changarnier have adopted the same immersive approach, with two dancers and two drummers in the street. Working on the principle that one man can change the world, this gestural, audio and rhythmic domino-effect gradually takes hold of the three other partners and then the spectators in a collective free-for-all. It is a powerful, physical and catchy dance that explores the loss of our bearings and the notion of community.

This staging forms a playground at the heart of urban life, similar to previous creations, États des lieux, and the solo, Ma présence est un mensonge, but a break from the staging of Home. With this performance, Collectif A/R continues its research on developing dialogue between live music and contemporary dance. This time, Paul Changarnier, Thomas Demay and Julia Moncla place two musicians (drummers) and two dancers in the street, with the audience facing one another. In this encounter on the pavement, Average Joe uses pulsing rhythms and physical dancing to explore the notion of a domino effect whereby one man or woman can influence the course of history more than they ever thought possible.

Starting with simple facts of outdoor life (snippets of conversations, a woman at the door, a group of kids racing, a spontaneous game of football), this catchy gestural masterpiece gets people dancing as they listen and respond to the rhythm. The lead individual gradually gets his three partners to join in a succession of actions, followed by the audience who are invited to come together in a collective free-for-all.

Providing “dance and music for the street”, this energetic and sensitive musical dance explores the gradual integration of an individual in the group.