Dis_Sylphide

For far too long, theatre only utilised disabled bodies, if at all, to depict modes of otherness, or in conjunction with the tragic aspects of the world. Performance “Dis Sylphide” intervenes into dance history to confront it with questions for the normativity and authenticity of bodies from the perspective of people with mental disabilities. Choreographer and cultural activist Saša Asentić assembled a team of 14 people, with or without disabilities, composed of inclusive Hamburg ensemble “Damen und Herren” and Serbian theatre group “Per.Art”. In a sensitive, equitable work process, a tri-lingual evening emerged that turns a respectful encounter and an empowering shared discussion into part of the performance. The basis was found in three iconic 20^th century choreographies: Mary Wigman’s “Hexentanz” (“Witch Dance”), “Pina Bausch’s “Kontakthof” (“Court of Contact”) as well as “Self Unfinished” by Xavier Le Roy. Every single one of those pieces presents its own concept of the body, in turn revolutionising dance. The performers around Saša Asentić appropriate this material in order to develop their own aesthetics. Thus, they inscribe themselves into dance history, a history that refuses to allot them a place of their own, even to this day.

Choreographer Saša Asentić works in international projects, in the tension-filled realm  between theory and practice. Additionally, he has been developing pieces for people with disabilities for a long while now, and he is regarded as one of the preeminent experts on inclusive theatre work in Europe.

Duration: 90 min. / in German, English and Serbian