Zimmermann & de Perrot Present Gaff Aff At Baryshnikov Arts Center 5/4-8

It will be a triple first when the newly openEd Jerome Robbins Theater at the Baryshnikov Arts Center presents the American debut of the young Swiss troupe Zimmermann & de Perrot in the U.S. premiere of "Gaff Aff." When Mikhail Baryshnikov saw the duo perform in Essen, Germany in 2008, he was determined to bring this "amazing show" to New York. Hence, the company's five-day season at BAC, May 4-8, marking the first dance performance in the 238-seat Robbins.

Zimmermann & de Perrot's work, which has been likened to Buster Keaton, Jacques Tati and Tex Avery, combines circus acrobatics, dance and mime to create their sweetly charming commentary on the fragile, contradictory nature of being human.

Metaphorically and physically integral to "Gaff Aff's" message, the work's imaginative set consists of a series of cardboard structures that are transformed into various objects as the evening goes on while a fantastical, giant turntable serves as the endlessly revolving stage for the hapless Zimmermann. The turntable de Perrot employs to sample the sounds rests on a chaotically overcrowded desk overflowing with recordings.

Zimmermann's suit and tie, its collar akimbo and shirt partially untucked, belie his frazzling mind. His desire to control and understand forces out of his control are continually undermined as he tries to balance daily routines-eating, working, walking-on this treadmill to nowhere.

Yes, Martin Zimmerman tries to take command of his life against all odds, but doors open to nowhere, chairs refuse to stay still, and tables turn. Balance becomes impossible, yet the increasingly confused, endearingly optimistic Zimmermann persists.

The winner of over 20 awards for choreography, music and set design, the duo was created little more than a decade ago in Zurich, Switzerland. Since then, they have performed in over 85 venues and created over seven major works, all of which employ portable stage design that is created to adjust to the unique dimensions of the performance space. This summer they will be featured at the Avignon Festival in France. Zimmermann's background includes studies in set design and circus arts. He was a founding member of Compagnie Anomalie and performed in Joseph Nadji's "Cri du Cameleon." While still in high school in Zurich, de Perrot performed as a DJ, and after graduation pursued his musical studies, most of which were self-taught. He was named Musician of the Year in Zurich in 2005.

"GAFF AFF" is presented at the Baryshnikov Arts Center with the kind support of Pro Helvetia-Swiss Cultural Council and the Swiss Institute of New York. 

"Gaff Aff" is part of Baryshnikov Arts Center's May Nights in the Jerome Robbins Theater, a month-long celebration of dance, theater, music, and film, May 4-26, 2010. Tickets are $25 for performances, and $15 for the film screening. A special five-show discount pass (one ticket to all five presentations) is available for $85. Five-show passes are available beginning April 12. Individual tickets for Gaff Aff are one sale now. All other individual tickets are available beginning April 19. They can be purchased through SmartTix at 212-868-4444 / www.smarttix.com. All events will take place in the Jerome Robbins Theater at the Baryshnikov Arts Center.