By Ellen Zuckerman
(HOLLYWOOD PRESS CORPS) — The Cortège is a surreal, wordless ritual of myth & mourning and bills itself as a revival of the lost art of pageantry and a “festive funeral for our times.”
It is a theatrical spectacle that blends mythic pageantry, live ritual, and cutting-edge technology.
The Cortège is partially inspired by Carl Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious and is designed to explore the concepts of mythic pageantry, solace, celebration, renewal, and collective and personal grief.
The Cortège is a three-hour experience during which participants are guided through various phases beginning with live music, including hang drum, cello, and musical instruments from all over the world. I engaged with everyone and eye contact and touch is a form of communication at the show.
At dusk, participants experience an hour-long processional performance composed of choreographed movement, archetypal costuming, drone apparitions, puppetry, and robotics.
Guests are invited to wear headphones and hear accompanying original music from artists such as El Búho, Boreta, and TOKiMONSTA, as well as tracks from Air, Andrew Bird, Beautiful Chorus, Freedom Fighters, and Jean-Michelle Jarre.
You will recognize Jarre and will listen to music of new artists atthe show.
I was entertained bybthe efforts, but mostly by the reactions of all those watching it.
Tickets: The Cortège
There is also a beautiful blend of character and choreography, merging street dance with symbolic, ceremonial storytelling, led by MiYU and Capjay.
Get ready for a three hour show, if you are by yourself or alone. Everyone is is a friend at The Cortège.
The show is inspired by various cultures from around the world, with a reminiscence of a Dune / Mad Max backdrop.
There is a lot of effort and many attempts to make you think and feel. Feel the elements, actors and everyone around you, dancinv and listening to music.
The Cortège culminates with audience participation, in form of joining the procession into the Beyond, the Afterlife tent where tea is served in a space for reflection and connection, paired with live music DJ sets are performed by artists, including Carlos Niño, Superposition (the duo made up of Boreta and Matthew Davos whose 2020 album Form//Less was nominated for a best new age album Grammy), Nailah Hunter, Secular Sabbath, Alan Watts Org, and Living Earth.
Make an effort and talk to everyone. That is the intention of the artists who produced and act at The Cortège.
