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Encyclopedia of dance rituals

In a secluded clearing a group of dancers engages in that most fundamental of all dance activities: dancing to the beat. Forming a group, keeping together in time, moving their muscles rhythmically for a long period of time — these are some of the most meaningful activities we can imagine.

To the beats of percussionist Julian Sartorius’ hypnotic “Locked Grooves,” the dancers enact an encyclopedic catalog of dance rituals. Intricate circle dances mix with ecstatic trances and fitness exercises, fertility rites and initiation rituals, culminating in a sort of boot-camp forest-rave flash-mob mash-up. Amidst the stomping feet and the swirling dust, a new community begins to emerge.

Almost everything is made up, of course. Making a dancing community requires a fundamental act of imagination. “Fake it ’till you make it” is the group’s motto. Our dancing bodies are adept instruments of deception, our dance forms are elaborate swindles. And yet we know of no better way to form a true community than to move together on the beat.

The basic theme of imagined communities coming together through rhythmic dancing has relevance in a wide range of locations. Thus, besides the original forest version (which can be adapted to new parks and forests), an alternate stage version and an urban street version are also available.

“Faking It” is the second part of the “Counterfeit” trilogy, which has been supported by a multi-year production grant from the City of Bern for the years 2022-2024.

CHOREOGRAPHY

Joshua Monten

DANCE

Alina Lugovskaya
Yiorgos Pelegias
Hannah Thomas
Jack Wignall
Francisco Ladrón de Guevara [alternate]

DRAMATURGY

Manon Krüttli

COSTUME/SET DESIGN

Romy Springsguth

LIGHT DESIGN

Tonio Finkam

MUSIC

Julian Sartorius, “Locked Grooves”

SOUND DESIGN

Matthias Schoch

APPRENTICES

Yumio Chanoki
Mariana Morales Tomaz
Larissa de Villa

PRODUCED BY

Tough Love

COPRODUCTION

Dampfzentrale Bern
Theater Hameln

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE FINANCIAL SUPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

Pro Helvetia
Kultur Stadt Bern
SWISSLOS / Kultur Kanton Bern
Loterie Romande / Corodis
Burgergemeinde Bern
Migros Kulturprozent
Stiftung Anne-Marie Schindler
Ernst Göhner Stiftung
Else v. Sick Stiftung
Bürgi-Willert-Stiftung
Stanley Thomas Johnson Stiftung
Ursula Wirz-Stiftung

trailer (forest version)

trailer (indoor stage version)

trailer (urban street version)

performance video (forest version)

performance video (indoor stage version)

performance video (urban street version)

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

26 August 2023 — Dahlhölzliwald, Bern (CH) — premiere of outdoor version
27 August 2023 — Dahlhölzliwald, Bern (CH)
1 September 2023 — Dahlhölzliwald, Bern (CH) — school performance
2 September 2023 — Dahlhölzliwald, Bern (CH)
3 September 2023 — Dahlhölzliwald, Bern (CH)
1 November 2023 — Theater Hameln (D) — premiere of indoor version
3-5 November 2023 (3x) — Dock 11 Berlin (D)
10 Februar 2024 — SEGNI New Generations Festival, Mantua (I)
12 June 2025 — Stadttheater Biel (CH)

Download high-resolution photos (forest version)Download tech rider (forest version)Download high-resolution photos (urban street version)Download tech rider (urban street version)Download high-resolution photos (indoor stage version)Download tech rider (indoor stage version)