The first week of VERS&GERS in HUIS Conny Janssen Danst is a fact! During three weeks of performances in HUIS Conny Janssen Danst young makers and established choreographers show their work. Last week already 250 visitors came to see the works by Dario Tortorelli, Patricia van Deutekom and Andreas Hannes. Since week #1 is now over, it’s time for a little recap!
D NO BODY reinstalled
Everyday the performance started with the work by Dario Tortorelli named D NO BODY reinstalled. In this work, Dario was inspired by pop culture and the flamboyant style of glam rock and pop icons who challenge conventional notions of identity and gender, such as David Bowie, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. The performance explores Adi’s character as they search for identity, with the body slowly transforming from an installation into the ultimate manifestation of the self. Eight years after its creation, they and Adi Amit took the risk to repropose the piece for VERS&GERS. As Dario eloquently puts it, “Together with the audience, we embark on a journey to explore whether the performance still resonates. Adi and I are willing to take this risk.”
étude des hommes
The work by Patricia van Deutekom premiered during the first night of VERS&GERS. ‘études des homes’ is a work in progress: the result of her residency in HUIS Conny Janssen Danst. ‘étude des hommes’ is about fraternisation, brotherhood, rapprochement and mutual understanding. A search for codes of conduct and manners along the balance of equality in spirit, body and character, while challenging, scanning and steadily building up to a strong physical and emotional showdown in dance.
The end result of her study, a new full-length production ‘homme’ by LAVA Collective, will premiere in January 2024 and go on tour in the Netherlands until April 2024.
Warping Soul
Every night the evening closed with the famous work by Andreas Hannes. In ‘Warping Soul’, the dancers emerge within a space that is constantly in transit. At the mercy of external forces, they move within movement. Through the disorientation and reorganisation of bodies and space, Andreas Hannes explores the dynamics of bouncing and warping*. By questioning the body’s agency, he aims to intensify the magnetism and binding between bodies and space to create a tantalising atmosphere for an otherworldly dance. ‘Warping Soul’ was inspired by the practice of continuous skipping (as in skipping down the street) that Andreas Hannes has been developing since 2017. Key elements of his practice were road-trips, transiting landscapes and aerodynamic forces.
Warping Soul can soon be seen at various festivals.