HOW DOES A CHOREOGRAPHY TRIGGER OUR THINKING AND WHICH PROCESSES OF PERCEPTION CAN BE RE-EVALUATED WHEN WE WATCH DANCE?
THESE QUESTIONS SIT AT THE HEART OF “DISJOINT”,
AN ON-STAGE EXPERIMENT THAT PLAYS WITH ENTRENCHED MECHANISMS OF THE GAZE AND ENGAGEMENT, PROPOSING UNFAMILIAR PHYSICALITIES AND INCONGRUOUS NARRATIVES INSTEAD.
In this work by Anastasia Valsamaki, three dancers explore an unfamiliar physicality: a means of expression not rooted in the consistency, harmony or naturalism of the body’s movements. “DisJoint” takes a physical approach to the notion of disjointedness, to non-functional movement, so that both the material produced by each dancer, and the ways in which these materials are combined, can stand in opposition to values that are entrenched in dance movement – namely harmony, flow, and classicizing forms – and even propose something different, something new.
Devoid of all these entrenched values, this on-stage experiment also positions itself as a query to audiences, who have been “trained” – in a sense – to see and to understand specific expressive possibilities of the body in dance. In reality, Valsamaki seeks to pose the following question: which processes of perception are activated when we watch a choreography and to what extent can we consciously overturn these processes in order to propose a new mode of thought?
Whether grappling with the fragile balance that exists between the group and the individual or devoting herself to the small-scale solo form, Anastasia Valsamaki’s explorations are always guided by the idea of “clean” movement. For this young choreographer, dance constitutes – first and foremost – a way of thinking and of observing, over and above every narrative intention or need for a storyline.
“Register the elements: a piano fugue resounding around an empty stage, its perimeters demarcated by floor-level strip lights; the back one, lit. For Anastasia Valsamaki’s “DisJoint” is a piece that plays with elements: sounds, light, space, colours. And, of course, the dancers – Gavriela Antonopoulou, Nefeli Asteriou and Tasos Karachandis – with their steppy phrases, made of folds, hinges, lunges, tilts and quivers. Everything is as articulated as that fugue. (…)”
—SANJOY ROY, dance critic, dancer and mentor at Springback Academy dance writing program
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CREDITS
Concept & Choreography: Anastasia Valsamaki
Co-creators & Performers: Gavriela Antonopoulou, Nefeli Kadinopoulou Asteriou, Tasos Karachanidis
Music: George Paterakis
Dramaturgy Consultant: Anastasio Koukoutas
Costume Design: Kyriaki Nasioula
Set Design: Manos Vordonarakis
Lighting: Apostolos Strantzalis
Photos: Alekos Bourelias & Christos Bourelias, Dimitris Mamaloukos
Production Manager: Eleni Valsamaki
Line producer: MINDTHELOOP -
PREMIERED AT
Onassis New Choreographers Festival 7
1-2 February 2020 -
TRAILER
Watch the video trailer -
REVIEWS
Read reviews on the webpage of Onassis New Choreographers Festival 7
