Dreams in a cloudy space

When capitalist society glances at ageing bodies, it sees deficits. When describing older people, that which is lacking and that which can no longer be attained oftentimes comes into focus. Is it fear of one’s own fugacity, fear of the loss of capability, that creates reserve between the generations? Founded on interviews, a movement research and a video shoot at several retirement homes and senior citizen centres, Antje Velsinger is occupied with physical qualities beyond mere efficiency. To revise the gaze on old bodies holds many questions and insights. Different body generations meet in a number of dream sequences. They seek secure footing, sink, fall, support each other, enjoy and use several tricks to master everyday life.
A choreography emerges from a poetic composition of video and sound fragments, objects and the bodies of two dancers, one being 35 years old and the other one being 75 years old, blurring the boundaries: Between activity and passivity, isolation and withdrawal, joy and resignation.
Antje Velsinger works as a freelance choreographer and performer in Cologne and Hamburg. She studied choreography and performance in Gießen, was the 2014 resident choreographer at K3 Tanzplan Hamburg and part of the post-graduate “Performing Citizenship” programme from 2015 until 2017. “Dreams in a cloudy space” held its celebrated premiere at Tanzfaktur Köln in November 2019.

Duration: 70 min.