The very first Artist in residence in Huis Conny Janssen Danst: maker Adam Khazhmuradov has been working on his research project with dancer Wilchaan Roy Cantù since last February.
Adam started his dance career with street styles such as hip-hop, house and break. After his Urban Contemporary/Jazz Musical study at the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, he worked at Hofesh Shechter Company, Club Guy & Roni and Dalton Jansen, among others. He is currently working as a freelancer and is working on his development as a choreographer. We asked Adam a few questions about his residency at Huis Conny Janssen Danst.
What are your plans in the studio during this residency?
Adam: “In the first weeks I explore the world and themes I want to create as freely as possible. I do this together with Wilchaan. In the studio we investigate the extremities of the impossible in our human body and existence. We do this by breaking free from human neuro-typical reality to start a search for our essence as human beings. We first try to get into a state where there is nothing – a kind of limbo – without elements of our learned life. In doing so, we actually let ourselves “die” only to be reborn into a new malleable and sensitive transformation being – or whatever wants to flourish.
I am curious about how you can relate your physicality to your subconscious. We question our senses about what is more sensory possible. The interest in this stems from a sense of always wanting and needing to be more, and is inspired by my fascination with Dadaism, Surrealism and the philosophy of Erin Manning.
My goal is mainly to understand the physicality in connection with our materials, where ultimately not only three different, powerful worlds exist (body, latex and light), but they can also flow into each other with ease.”
The interest in this stems from a sense of always wanting and needing to be more, and is inspired by my fascination with Dadaism, Surrealism and the philosophy of Erin Manning. Adam Khazhmuradov
“Something that I find difficult about research – and what I now take with me in this project – is that you can get lost very deeply during an improvisation, but that you have already lost the feeling the moment you want to relive it in order to choreograph. That is why I am now also investigating the literal creation of certain scenes or themes from the beginning with Wilchaan, not necessarily to use it, but to understand how you can experience something in set material as well as in the first improvisation exercises.”
What will you show during the presentation moment on March 12, 2023?
Adam: “I have few expectations and that’s actually the healthiest mindset for me. It’s probably going to be a fresh and vulnerable sharing moment. I’m not going to make an effort to represent my vision as perfectly as possible or to impress people. I’ll show scenes that hopefully embody what I’m explaining in this interview, I’ll also talk about how we work in the studio and probably show some improvisational techniques, so I’ll be able to explain the themes and colors in more detail to everyone.
I hope to have half an hour of material during the presentation. It doesn’t have to be a complete piece yet, because I want to take the next step with this material later. These weeks at Korzo and Conny Janssen Danst are a first step in the research of my new creation, which I want to continue with a scenographer and lighting designer.
The presentation will hopefully be a nice gathering of people who are interested in my work and people who are just interested in art. A meeting where we talk about how everyone has experienced it and what references they make. I kind of hope it will have a communal feel, where everyone feels free to express what they think. That we can all talk about art in a supportive way!”