Stamping feat

Foot stamping is a common feature of many forms of dance. This is not surprising because it provides immediate rhythmical accompaniment to the dance, while being integral to the dance action. Inspired by what many consider as the most natural and first man-made rhythm-making in the world, illustrious choreographers have often drawn upon this primeval idea for their artistic creations. Footfalls, therefore, have often been extrapolated from their traditionally non-theatrical contexts and imported into ballets such as those by Maurice Béjart and Jiri Kylian, or into more radical theatre-dance works, such as Maguy Marin’s memorable May B (1981).

In Jean-Pierre Perreault’s Joe, rhythmical patterns created by stamping, tapping, and shuffling feet underscore the 68-minute-long action, thus compensating for the almost total lack of music. In this context, however, foot action is far more than mere accompaniment to the dance or one of its distinctive structural features. From the opening sequence, it is clear that foot drumming in Joe is intended to make a social and political statement.