There is architecture in every moving body, says Nicole Morel

What happens when something as rigid as a brick meets the fluidity of the human body? Swiss choreographer Nicole Morel has been exploring that question with BRICKS, a transdisciplinary work that blurs the lines between dance, architecture and sound. Excerpts from a chat:

‘BRICKS ARE NOT JUST A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL’
“Bodies in dance have a certain architecture through their movement,” says Nicole. The idea took shape during a tour. “I discovered the work of Colombian architect Rogelio Salmona, and something clicked. As we travelled through Brazil and Colombia, bricks were everywhere. That constant presence made her see bricks as more than construction material. “Coming from a Swiss town with centuries-old architecture, the contrast was stark. Today, things change so quickly. It made me reflect on permanence and fragility.”
‘WE WANTED THE MUSIC TO COME FROM THE BRICKS THEMSELVES’
One of the most unusual aspects of BRICKS is that the material itself becomes part of the score. Morel collaborated with Colombian composer Violeta Cruz. “I was interested in listening — not only to ourselves, but to our environment. We wanted to explore something unique in music. So we worked with the bricks as instruments, and it turned out to be a layered ex perience where sound, movement and material are in constant dialogue, each shaping the other in real time,” shares Nicole.

‘Art is all about what you experience in the moment’
Despite its growing presence, contemporary dance still carries a perception of being inaccessible. Morel acknowledges this hesitation but challenges it. “Sometimes people feel like they don’t have the codes to understand. But in the end, art is about what you experience in the moment. It’s about trusting your own perception and connecting it to your life. You don’t need an education in art history for that,” she asserts.

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