A multimedia dance performance that positions the influence of pop-culture on the individual and shared portraits of three women, which emerged from conversations around common memories of 90’s youth. This work is a dialogue between the digital camcorder and the female body, where the actual body and the digital image of the body are in conversation. We meet and communicate with the audience through technology, through a lens, allowing choices of what to see and how to see be made by the viewer. Space is given to any embarrassment we may/may not have. In SMACK nostalgia and criticism, awkwardness and physical agency are explored.
How do you say what you want through your body with an awareness of how culture defines/defined it? The dichotomy of wanting to embrace and wanting to reject serves as a base for this production.
“SMACK is both playful and carefully considered. Assertively performed with attention, against the soundtrack of Barbie Girl [Aqua], I found myself reassessing the mantras of our childhood without neglecting joy of dancing to pop music” — Hannah Parsons
Performance/Choreografie: Olivia Edginton, Ingvild Marstein Olsen & Vera Ilona Stierli
Dramaturgie: Tobias Eule
Outside-Eye: Chris Lechner
SMACK has since 2016 been co-produced by Gaskssel Bern, supported by venues and residencies including Hamar Teater, Hamar Kulturhus, Dampfzentrale, Tanzatelier NiVo, and funded by Stanley Thomas Johnson Fund, Swisslos / Kultur Kanton Bern, Burgergemeinde Bern, Schweizerische Interpretenstiftung SIS, Norwegian Embassy of Bern, Hamar Kommune & Hedmark Fylke.
Past Shows:
Dampfzentrale & Gaskessel Bern (CH), Teatre Hamar & Kunstbanken Museum (NO), Chisenhale Dance Space London, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Rich Mix London & Stamford Arts Centre (UK)
VERA ILONA STIERLI 