A 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
Verein 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
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 July 2021 — Heimland Festival, Diepenheim (NL)
25 July 2021 — Heimland Festival, Diepenheim (NL)
7 August 2021 — La plage des Six Pompes, La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)
8 August 2021 — La plage des Six Sompes, La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)
18 November 2021 — Dock 11 Berlin (D)
19 November 2021 — Dock 11 Berlin (D)
20 November 2021 — 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)