cellar & secrets – BEYOND REASON

The year 2020 marks 75 years since the end of the National Socialist and 45 years since the end of the Francoist dictatorial regimes. Cologne-based choreographer Gerda König cooperates with her Spanish colleague Jordi Cortés Molina and video artist Jürgen Salzmann to reference those tyrannies. They address the torture cellars present in both dictatorial states as well as their traumatising effects on present-day bodies in both Germany and Spain. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DIN A 13 tanzcompany ventured beyond the physical stage space for the first time, into private spaces. In “cellar & secrets – BEYOND REASON”, the four dancers*’ bathrooms become digital stages that conjure up associations with torture chambers and solitary confinement as well triggering memories of isolation and violence. Through astute live video direction – with eight cameras – a digital performance featuring pre-produced images as well as live dancing emerges that enables connections spanning the distance between Germany and Spain, confronting the present with the past.

The artistic debate on the historic crimes of both dictatorships wants to sound a warning on essential events, bringing them to the surface, and views itself as part of a reconsideration process that advances only slowly, especially in Spain. Many victims of torture, violence and detention carried disability as subsequent damage of their experience. The handling of those topics by a mixed-abled company punctuates the thought of spaces aside from the norm in a volatile manner.

DIN A 13 tanzcompany has recently been awarded the Support Grant for Excellence in Dance of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Additionally, Gerda König also received this year’s Kölner Ehrentheaterpreis (Cologne Honorary Theatre Award) for the 25^th anniversary of the DIN A 13 tanzcompany as well.

Duration: 60 min. / contains English

Please note: After booking you’ll receive the link to the event shortly before the performance starts.