DIRECTION:
Jaro Viňarský
CHOREOGRAPHY / PERFORMERS:
Sára Šimek Arnstein, Lukas Blaha, Sabina Bočková, Leonardo Gaipa, Barbora Nechanická, Johana Pocková, Matthew Rogers
DRAMATURGY:
Lucia Kašiarová
LIGHTING DESIGN:
Jan Hugo Hejzlar
MUSIC:
Lukáš Palán
COSTUMES:
Sára Šimek Arstein
SCENOGRAPHY, VISUAL DOCUMENTATION:
Tomáš Hubinský
PHOTO:
Vojta Brtnický, Svitlana Seleznyova
GRAPHIC:
Peter “Pyppo” Dlhopolček, Profigrafik.sk
PRODUCTION:
POCKetART z.s. - Johana Pocková, Sabina Bočková, Natálie Vacková
CO-PRODUCTION:
Tanec Praha z.ú.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY:
Ministerstvo kultury ČR, Magistrát hl.m. Prahy, Státní fond kultury ČR
SUPPORTED BY:
REZI.DANCE Komařice
DURATION:
75 min
PREMIERE:
PONEC - dance theatre, 9.12. 2022
BODIES TOGETHER Through, not against
An immersive performative journey on the phenomenon of corporations.
When creating this immersive experience, we also discovered certain poetics on this subject. Rather than dealing with a specific case study, we focused on the question: How do we perceive the influence and impact of corporations on our daily lives?
In general, we tend to mistakenly believe that we, as individuals, have nothing to do with how corporations are upholding the success of the capitalist system in which we live. However, our lives and work are deeply intertwined with this system driven by financial profit. More than we can often imagine, realize or admit. A corporation may be an artificial legal structure, but the people involved in it, whether it be shareholders, executives, employees, or the rest of us as consumers, we all have moral and ethical responsibilities.
One of the several meanings of the term ‘corporation’ comes from several people / bodies coming together to form one person / body. They unite to become a collective. Abstracted, BODIES TOGETHER.
The performers shift between the identities of a ‘natural person’ and embodying the values of the corporation as a ‘legal person’. In Bodies Together, we play as though every body’s presence is part of a single corporate structure in which we all participate. The rules and goals are revealed as the play unfolds. How do you co-create and navigate yourself in a world of manipulation? Structured around each performer’s attempt to voice escape from the corporate system, the performance shows we are all inevitably and repeatedly drawn back into the game.
7 ‘real persons’ plus 40 ‘guest real bodies’ become 47 Bodies Together in a fragmented environment made of 70 floating boxes. The creative team offers playfull opportunity to embark together on a fictional journey into a unique human corporation to imagine new strategies for the ‘real world’. One strategy we have found is to move ‘Through, not against’.
Journey Equipment:
Bring your own headlamp. If you don't own one, ask your neighbor, but don't buy a new one, we'll lend one to you. Comfortable clothes and shoes. No high heels. You also have the option to put your shoes aside.
Brief Journey Manual:
Through, not against, the key to overcome possible frustration in a fragmented environment. The slogan that guides the performers, the audience, and should even guide The Corporation :) If you need instructions continue reading, if you don't need anything else, stop reading here.
Option 1: POINT OF VIEW - choose one of the characters and follow them throughout the whole journey, look at everything from her/his perspective
Option 2: DIVERSITY – during your journey change the characters you chose as many times as you wish
Option 3: CHAOS - you do not choose either options 1 or 2 and you rely on your own orientation skills and you will move freely in the space and look at everything from your own point of view
Due to the interactive nature of the performance and the reduced intensity of lighting during it, we ask for increased caution when moving around the stage and auditorium. If necessary, do not hesitate to ask the staff for assistance.
