Sans la Voix des Maîtres (1998)

First solo created by Joji Inc in 1998 and interpreted by Johanne Saunier. 

The source of materiel for the movement and the sound track, as well as the structure, is a 1963 fim by Kobayashi.

The film's narrative is in the form of a confession/accusation by a ronin, a deprived samourai, told as he sits surrounded by his enemies.

Choregraphy and mise en scene: Johanne Saunier and jim Clayburgh
Music: soundtrack done by Joji, Andy Russ and Alex Fostier
Scenography: Jim Clayburgh

The piece is 27' long

The scene of the SEAD Hall Elsbethen( Salzburg ) seemed cold and empty Monday. But Johanne Saunier did understand in a fantastic way how to heat and fill this emptiness. The dancer held the public with a choreography (created with the collaboration of Jim Clayburgh), that was base on a sequence of the film"Harakiri"from 1963. Visualized not only by Saunier's work on Asian culture of movement (especially the martial art), but also the dramatic line of her performance.

It is like in the film: a sound background of echoing steps, wind, excited voices.or the music of Aka Moon. At the same time, the public is able to see all this in the face, the body, in the movement of the artist, who mirrors the moment of tension of each scene that she refers to. Johanne Saunier catches her public and guides them into an imaginary world where there are electrifying moments. With heart beating breathlessness of listening and waiting, the seduction of a hunted hunter or the violence fighting duel, her acting skills, gives her enormous conviction. The text fragments that she whispers are stimulating and there is no need to understand French to get exactly what she is saying: only highly sensitive bat-ears.

(Salzburger Vollezeitun-svz 5/8/98 )

Son solo Sans la voix des maîtres pose les bases d'un univers rien qu'à elle. Si les images n'en sont pas projetées sur scène, la bande-son, en revanche, mixée à des bribes de textes (.) exacerbe sa danse toute en cassures et angles vifs. Sous tension, Johanne Saunier offre la vision d'un drôle de petit samouraï dont la beauté offensive fascine et émeut. Un duel en solo pour devenir soi-même.

(Télérama, Spécial Octobre en Normandie 1998, Rosita Boisseau)