Developing a visual sketch and new constellations in the frame work of my Tanzpraxis stipend: with Naniek K. (81), Laurie Young (52), Dasniya Sommer (45) and Fungi Fung (32).
‘There is a big lack of spending time with older women.. ,’ Laurie said after these try outs, and I so agree. Most of my life I haven’t spent enough time with elderly people due to family drama, project directions and insurmountable cultural gaps. Both our Asian parents are/were not living in Europe, and during our dance try outs Naniek K. filled the room with a familiar vibe only elder Asian people do, which strongly reminded us to them. It’s a certain perspective and wiseness they own. Keeping their spirit and humour high against all odds, while their often non-linear live experience of living outside their culture for a long time, in western societies, resonates through. Naniek K. made us laugh pointing to the most absurd observations in human behaviour, always maintaining her politeness, dignity and a sense of humbleness while holding our hands. She later talked about shadow sides of working in west Germany in the 80es in an every day job, which I well remember from own family stories.
If we were to develop a performance format further I am curious how to find choreographic translations for Laurie’s and Naniek K.‘s performative. For me switching from directing to joining them as dancer was as always tricky, but could possibly work after figuring out how their dance forms relate. And, I am curious where the musical concept we developed for Fungi plays into it.
I like testing these impulses in my atelier even if it feels rough without production resources. But these steps are always essentially productive The stipend was strongly supportive for this. It gave me time to chew and reflect over intangible gut feeling before getting active, finding the team and bringing it together. The concept still needs to be formulated, it strongly stems from the people and an unconscious aesthetic impulse.
In a similar spirit there is an irony in unfolding my dance practice with such wise dancers only now. It took a long time, but I also appreciate this reverse opportunity.
Photos: Fungi Fung.
