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Pas de deux between bodies and text

“How to Do Things with Words” is a pas de deux between bodies and graphic text, between language and movement. How does one dance with text? What new meanings arise when dancers manipulate objects printed with words and phrases?

The results range from the literal to the poetic, from the meaningful to the absurd. Printed signs may be flat, but they add a surprising depth to a dance performance. Lush physicality and a detailed movement language color a black and white landscape of printed text fragments. Playing hide-and-go-seek amongst clouds of interpretive complexity, the dancers invite the audience to participate actively in the search for meaning.

Both indoor and outdoor versions of the production are available.

 

“Virtuosic and fluid, poetic and absurd…. There’s no doubt, one finds here the same mixture of offbeat humor and demanding classical vocabulary as in certain work (like “Nelken”) signed by that high priestess of Tanztheater, Pina Bausch….  The combination of text and movement, the admixture of contemporary dance, neoclassical dance, hip-hop and supple breath-like waves passing through the body all remind one of the historic choreographer William Forsythe. A marvel of singular strangeness.“
Bertrand Tappolet, Gauchebdo, 4 August 2022

“How to Do Things with Words” is the first part of the “Counterfeit” trilogy, in which the Joshua Monten Dance Company explores their favorite kinds of fakery and falseness. Martha Graham never tired of claiming that “the body never lies.” We beg to differ! Our bodies are adept instruments of deception. The very act of performing is inextricably implicated with telling lies — and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The “Counterfeit” trilogy has been supported by a multi-year production grant from the City of Bern for the years 2022-2024.

Trailer

Teasers

CHOREOGRAPHY

Joshua Monten

DANCE

Angela Demattè
Katharina Ludwig
Jack Wignall

DRAMATURGY

Guy Cools

VIDEO

Manuel Justo
Alessandro Schiattarella
Matilde Martins

PROPS/GRAPHIC DESIGN

Franziska Lüthi

COSTUME DESIGN

Catherine Voeffray

LIGHTING DESIGN

Mirjam Berger

MUSIC CONSULTANT

Moritz Alfonz

APPRENTICE

Gian Luca Lazzarini

PRODUCED BY

Tough Love

COPRODUCTION

Dampfzentrale Bern
Centre de Création Helvétique des Arts de la Rue (CCHAR)

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
GVB Kulturstiftung
Parrotia-Stiftung
Stanley Thomas Johnson Stiftung
Fondation Nestlé pour l’Art
Schweizerische Interpretenstiftung
Stiftung Anne-Marie Schindler
Stiftung Pro Scientia et Arte
Oertli Stiftung

THANKS

Marion Allon
Giulia Esposito
Sandra Klimek
Dario Theiler

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

16 February 2022 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out/school performance
17 February 2022 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — premiere
18 February 2022 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH)
19 February 2022 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH)
24-26 February 2022 (3x) — Dock 11 Berlin (D)

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