Nightmare Before Valentine

This young company lays emphasis in their work on the common misconception that understanding is an automatic effect of communication between the sexes and generations, between family, friends and strangers. Breaking up the conventionalities of communication they investigate the surprises and embarrassments of misunderstanding and presumption. All members are united by the conviction that words are often not a sufficient but a confusing medium of communication. While wordlessness is a feature naturally inherent in dance this approach to the medium differs significantly to storytelling and narrative-based dance. The concealed intentions, feelings and thoughts in-between perceptible actions and reactions are given the priority over behaviour perceived as normal. Thus wishes and dreams become a fleeting reality. In order to stir audience’s imagination the company seek to provide a multitude of associations and challenge their perception, but do not shy away from aesthetically pleasing work. In the process of developing work they have found it logical and stimulating to unlock unfamiliar spaces and perform in surprising surroundings, thus disrupting the usual performer-audience relationship.

Lydia Ziemke, Uta Rösler and Karoline Rödel will make the presentation at Theatre Methods 08.

"Trown" Project

Choreography, direction and dramaturgy by Lydia Ziemke.

The past and present influence of tradition and firm family structures – having a part to play, a path to follow, a moral judgement to go by – has been or is being or will be more and more dissolved by such developments as: industrialisation, emancipation, world wars 1 and 2, the ensuing loss of religion and mythology, communism, capitalism, forms of individualism and existentialism. Necessities and state systems have changed, and a new individual freedom emerges – individual opportunities and responsibility.

Together we investigate the moment when we are confronted with our own existence – how we are Thrown into existence – and realise this freedom/responsibility. Do we consciously change our lives, do we compensate for the lost traditions and structures, what are we afraid of, who do we become? Is there a purpose in life and do we need one? There is an absurd tension in these questions that we will examine together with a view to each individual’s cultural background.

We will listen to each others stories and play with them in order to develop situations and non-verbal scenes physicalising a selection of our stories – in order to create the tension between past and present on stage in our presentation. There will be a group presentation followed by a solo/duet choreography, altogether lasting about 20-30 minutes.

For participants – please bring, wherever possible, as many of the following things as you can:
- a picture of a traditional situation/custom
- a traditional piece of clothing or jewellery
- a song or even musical instrument
- a poem
- a craft, or customary practical process or even a tool
- a specific memory or story about at least two generations prior to you
- another piece you feel will fit, e.g. a kitchen or everyday implement.

And please think about:
- a liberating aspect of a firm family structure/tradition
- an oppressive aspect of the same.

In the workshop we will ask people to present what they have brought and will give impulses for collaborations and finding more abstract expressions for their stories. By a guided collaborative process and by means of several movement techniques suitable for bigger groups we will give the material a dramatic structure. This is not to answer any questions in particular but to ask them clearly and physicalise the investigation process.