Zwei Hände die sich greifen wollen, aber noch zu weit von einander entfernt sind.
© Jo Kirchherr

DOCUMENTARY MIXEDABLE DANCE THEATER PRODUCTION

upDATING YOU

A documentary, multimedia dance theater piece about the Internet and relationships

Work and social flexibility prompted by the demands of a globalized world wouldn't be possible without the internet. The net provides enormous opportunities for knowledge transfer and economic exchange. It offers new possibilities for social and cultural interaction. The omnipresence of the digital is, however, ambivalent. Not only because the net already seems to know us way better than we do know ourselves. Personal relationships increasingly are shifting into the virtual space, are negotiated and lived there. What are the consequences of this shift on the human and the emotional level? And what happens to all those who are technologically and economically left behind such as the elderly or socially disadvantaged people?

upDATING YOU is a documentary, multi-media dance theater production about the internet and relationships. The Clou: Already during the production phase the artistic team relies on social media and internet – the feedback of the community influences the rehearsal process! Yet the production follows in dual aspects innovative paths. For one, documentary dance theater still is a relatively new genre in Germany. Secondly, the mixed-abled composition of the ensemble still is transverse to the common casting practices of dance companies.

upDATING YOU is working with professional dancers with and without disabilities. The cast is enlarged by the virtual ensemble of the internet-users, whose participation is motivated through a social media campaign. Via life-streams and chats they keep track of the rehearsals and simultaneously shape these with their comments - the artistic process thus becoming an elementary part of the performance. The production’s sociopolitical approach is not just to be seen in the internet, it is mirrored there.

Trailer / upDATING YOU

Moderne Zeiten im Tanz

tanznetz
16. Mai 2016, Marieluise Jeitschko

Diese „Cyber-Peepshow unseres Alltags“ macht eine neue Qualität von Ausgrenzung und von Körperbewusstsein sichtbar.„Stellen Sie jetzt bitte Ihr Handy an!“, fordert eine freundliche Stimme die Zuschauer auf, als die Show in der Kölner Wachsfabrik beginnen soll. Auch sonst ist vieles hier ganz anders als heutzutage in der Theater- und Performancewelt (…)

tanznetz.de

COOPERATION

A cooperation of the DIN A 13 dance company / Gerda König and visual artist Ralf Jesse / produced by VisAbility e.V.

CREDITS

Concept/Artistic Direction: Gerda König und Ralf Jesse
Choreography: Gerda König und Giada Scuderi
Videoart: Ralf Jesse
Dance: Alma Edelstein, Damiaan Veens, Ruben Reniers, Fabian Dirla, Yanel Barbeito
Dramaturgy: Gitta Roser

Music: Frank Schulte
Light: Gert Weidig
Costumes: Thomas Wien Pegelow
Stage design: miegL
Production Management: Anika Bendel
Social Media campaign: 3/medial
Evaluation: Prof. Dr. Heiner Barz

Internship: Paulina Jürges
Artists support: Johanna May, Omar Gómez
Sabine Schrage
Public Relations: Nicola Steller – Freie Medien und Pressearbeit (national & international) mechtild tellmann kulturmanagement (lokal & regional)

SUPPORTER

Stiftung Wohlfahrtspflege NRW