Tanzoffensive 2013 puts “mixed ability” center stage
in’·va·lid or in·val’·id? We stopped using that archaic term years ago. I remember seeing DV-8’s Can We Afford This/The Cost of Living in London. Many things about the performance moved me, but what has stuck with me most was the interplay between the one dancer and another who had no legs. They explored some quite dark sides of behavior, with the dancer first being verbally abusive and then moving to very personal questions we all wonder about and finally to just talking to him as he would any other person. The whole time they were playing with level and positioning. In the end the dancer attempted to do choreography that only the man with no legs was able to do.
I am very intrigued to see how the choreographers at Tanzoffensive will approach these topics. The Lofft always has very high quality performances…I can’t wait! Here’s a quick highlight of what they have lined up:
Heimat+3, photo Stefan-Nöbel-Heise
Three people. Three stories that couldn’t be different and yet are one and the same. Dancers with and without disabilities examine the consequences of their pasts. We alternate between wonderful childhood memories and ones of deprivation. A flash of memory can save or destroy us. The dancers, themselves decide how they will be affected.
“The mixed-abled dance theater company of the villa is physical theater in the truest sense.” (From the Jury for winning the motion Leipzig Art Prize 2012)
CHOREOGRAPHY novel Windisch DANCERS Stefanie Berndt, Emilie slides, Lisa Zocher MUSIC / PIANO Franziska Tannert MUSIC / PIANO January forge ARTISTIC ASSISTANCE Heike Wenzel PRODUCTION MANAGER Marion Müller / Tanzlabor Leipzig
the sound of it, photo Jan Stradtmann
The Sound of It
THE SOUND OF IT is a piece about the hearing. The work focuses on the background of dance and choreography of the movement of sound in space.
THE SOUND OF IT explores the performative potential of noises. They become actors and choreographers. The audience follows the part-documentary soundtrack via headphones, while the space is recorded simultaneously by two performers. Thus, the project falls somewhere between dance and sound art. The documentary sounds were produced during a four day period at the LOFFT where extras performed a set choreography.
“On stimulating way stressful and a bit scary.” Taz
CONCEPT AND CHOREOGRAPHY Lucia Glass IDEA AND RESEARCH Lucia Glass with Manon Santkin WITH Maxwell McCarthy and extras Mathews ARTISTIC CONSULTING ENGINEER Florian Christian Valhi
www.luciaglass.com
Following the last performance in the PUBLIC TALK LOFFT-WG. Moderator: Dr. Thomas Kahlisch (director German Central Library for the Blind)
Particularly suitable for the blind and visually impaired. The performance takes place entirely in the dark.
Changeable Cohesion, photo Chintaka Thenuwara
Changeable Cohesion
Born into a period of civil war. Once familiar structures now involve risks and everyday moments can turn into unpredictable threats … How does a man navigate when his environment no longer offers security? How fragile is existence? On the contrary, what unsuspected strengths and creative energies come forth?
The project TRANSITION DIN A 13 tanzcompany examined similar emotional circumstances in environments that are historically, socially and geographically distant from each other: Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Israel and Germany.
“DIN A 13 is pure avant-garde. Gerda König can do everything, ‘just not normal’. Exhibitionism and intelligence share the same wavelength. It goes beyond the cages and dances somewhere between São Paulo and Nairobi at the pleasure, ‘that normality just is what you make of it.’ “Dance
CHOREOGRAPHY Gerda König CHOREOGRAPHIC ASSISTANCE Marc Stuhlmann DANCERS Suranga Bopitiya, Venuri Perera, Saman Pushpakumara, Nadeeka Tharangani, Mahesh Umagiliya, Thusitha Wimalasuriya MUSIC Harsha Makalande VIDEO & CULTURAL COACH Vishnu Vasu COSTUMES Nikita Deana LICHTDESIGN Ryan Holsinger & Gerda König LIGHT IN GERMANY Gerd Weidig PRODUCTION MANAGER Gustavo Fijalkow. Based on the concept of transition Gerda König and Gustavo Fijalkow
Along side the performances are must see films at Prager Frühling. My advice? book your tickets in advance. Some performances are already sold out!
high culture, low culture, street culture, sub-culture; LEIPZIG
Moving from Berlin was hard for me. I loved how I was spoiled for choice. There were lots things I wanted to go to day and night. I didn’t feel so bad when I just stayed home. Leipzig was a difficult adjustment for me…..at first. Here’s a very quick run down of where I’ve been this week.
ART
I started last Thursday at an opening for INTERIM un tunnel transatlantique. This is a exhibition of cultural and artistic exchange between 5 Leipzig artists and 5 artists from Montreal, Canada. I was running late, so I only went to the second part of the opening at HALLE 14 2OG. It was so refreshing! I needed a break from painting and I got it. There are so many wonderful things there……..if I have to highlight one….it’s the swing made from feather boas…absolutely brilliant! I can’t wait to see the other half at D-21.
exhibition lasts til 16 June
inbox….JUNG and BRAUN photo INBOX
I left for the next stop and again had a positive experience. INBOX is known for its happenings and one-night-only shows. This time it featured
Marc Jung / Benedikt Braun.
OK…..loved loved loved the oma porn and the stuffed bear with the cow horn hat……nuff said! What a wonderful whimsical show! LOOK at their work and keep your eye on INBOX.
jam session at Greenfield’s, photo maeshelle west-davies
MUSIC
My next stop was, sadly, Greenfield’s. I say that because they are closing down. It was meant to be a little intimate closing jam session. They had one 5 May and they ended up with 200 people, so this was going to be smaller. When I got there there were 4 guys completely engrossed in what they were doing. I had planned on dropping in and out. Instead I took advantage of the luxury of just being in the moment and listening. Perfect ending to a perfect evening……and a great place. Watch out for little e vents now and then organised in various places.
Camerata Bayres at Gallerie KUB, photo gallerie KUB
Friday I went to a STYLE WILD BATTLES Street Dance competition at Distillery. It was my first and it was exhilarating! Moves upon moves! There were three categories; hip hop, experimental and dancehall. Here’s the experimental final battle. Keep in mind they have no idea what song is coming…… It was packed and hot and sweaty. After the contest I danced til dawn. Will defo do that again!
Saturday I opted for a blend of Vivaldi and Tango. YES, you read that right. Camerate Bayres is a new string orchestra made up of highly skilled and passionate musicians from the Dominican Republic, Italy, Honduras and Germany conducted by Matias Fierro direct from Buenos Aires, Argentina; the birthplace of tango. They were amazing! You have to go hear them play. Their next performance is at the end of June. I’ll let you know ;-)
Laura al qadi at the Arabic/German poetry reading, video still by maeshelle west-davies
POETRY
Last night I went to a poetry reading at Moritz Bastei. I love the sound of Arabic and Persian poetry. If you haven’t experienced it, it’s something you must try. This was their third and the theme was Heimat. The pieces were read in Arabic and German and accompanied on the laute by Mona Enayat. Mona comes from Eygypt and is an accomplished musician, composer, writer and artist. She’s giving a reading next Thursday 30 May starting at 7.30 at the Haus des Buches, Leipzig. It will be in German, but even if your skills aren’t that great, the music will touch you deeply.
LET IT BE
Live with no tricks, just like it was when the fab four were on stage, straight from the West End, “Let it Be” is coming to Leipzig. It’s been 50 years since the release of their first album, “Please Please Me” and I know every word to every song. I’ll bet you do too.
Here’s what the Huffington Post is saying.
And Time Out: