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An interactive hunting expedition

The U.S. Declaration of Independence famously insists on the rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But is it really possible to hunt for happiness? Where does this strange beast reside? And how does our quest depend on the people around us?

Dance is a powerful technology of mood: a tool for reflection, catharsis, and even ecstasy. And a dance performance is an excellent place to go hunting for happiness. In “The Pursuit of Happiness,” both the performers and the audience members join in the hunt — by exploring their most basic needs, witnessing each other’s struggles, and wandering the different paths to fulfillment.

One of Switzerland’s leading ensembles, the Joshua Monten Dance Company specializes in creating playfully interactive Tanztheater performances that are highly physical and emotionally charged. In their newest creation, “The Pursuit of Happiness” the audience is distributed throughout the performance space. Their reactions are visible to all, thus they become characters in the very performance they are witnessing.

Both indoor and outdoor versions of the production are available.

Trailer (indoor version)

Outdoor version

CHOREOGRAPHY

Joshua Monten

DANCE

Marioenrico D’Angelo
Angela Demattè
Frederik Kaijser
Jack Wignall
Konstantinos Kranidiotis [alternate]

DRAMATURGY

Guy Cools

SET DESIGN

Romy Springsguth

COSTUME DESIGN

Catherine Voeffray

LIGHTING DESIGN

Mirjam Berger

MUSIC CONSULTANT

Moritz Alfons

APPRENTICES

Giulia Esposito
Katharina Ludwig

PRODUCED BY

Tough Love

COPRODUCED BY

Dampfzentrale Bern
Südpol Luzern

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

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

PERFORMANCES

17 April 2021 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
22 April 2021 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
23 April 2021 — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
24 April 2021 (2x) — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — try-out
24 June 2021 (2x) — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH) — premiere
25 June 2021 (2x)— Dampfzentrale Bern (CH)
26 June 2021 (2x) — Dampfzentrale Bern (CH)
24-25 July 2021 (2x) — Heimland Festival, Diepenheim (NL)
7-8 August 2021 (2x) — La plage des Six Pompes, La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)
18-20 November 2021 (3x)— Dock 11 Berlin (D)
29-31 July 2022 (6x) — Straßentheaterfestival Ludwigshafen (D)
25 March 2023 — Theater am Gleis, Winterthur (CH)
23 May 2023 — Stadttheater Biel (CH)
13-14 June 2023 (2x) — Shanghai International Dance Center, Shanghai (CN)

Download high-resolution photos (indoor version)
Download high-resolution photos (outdoor version)
Download tech rider (indoor version)
Download tech rider (outdoor version)