A record player, a chair, a thermos flask – and dancer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. An old vinyl record: Joan Baez in Concert, 1963. The dancer is wearing a blue dress, similar to the one worn by the singer on the cover. She turns on the record player. The music of the black civil rights movement, represented by Joan Baez‘ sensitive voice, sets in: „Portland Town“, „Fennario“, the anthem „We Shall Overcome“. De Keersmaeker is dancing to it – with utmost precisement, distinct expressiveness and great emotional maturity – a plea, pealed from the past of an poverful onset, directed towards the presence. The recording of „We Shall Overcome“ ends abruptly, the singer’s fragile voice continues. War images are being projected, Bob Dylan’s unique voice sets in, lamenting the Americans‘ frantic yearning for justice, the battles against Red Indians and Spaniards. „Once“, created befor the war against Iraq, is a manifesto, the grand Belgian choreographer‘s touching statement against cold, arrogance, destruction and war.

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