Geneigter

Zwoisy Mears-Clarke continues the line of German folk dances with Geneigter. Driven by emotions and deep-rooted intentions, two dancers execute a series of movements, as scenes are performed in German Sign Language and sung in German. They tell a story that starts with our great-grandparents – a story that remains largely unknown in the face of the systematic erasure of Germany’s colonial past: There has been an entanglement between the Germans and the Ovaherero and Nama, two indigenous Namibian tribes, for almost 140 years, starting in 1884. This “relationship” was begun violently by Germany as a colonial power in former German South West Africa (present-day Namibia). What historians commonly call the first genocide of the 20^th century eventually happened between 1904 and 1908. Zwoisy Mears-Clarke’s descendant of the German folk dance turns toward these relations that belong to Germany, and which, once entwined, cannot be reversed. So, this dance reinforces the call of the Ovaherero and Nama and so many others: “Nothing about us without us.”

Zwoisy Mears-Clarke currently resides in Rösrath and views himself as a choreographer of the encounter. Zwoisy makes use of the potential in dance to make forms of oppression like neo-colonialism, sexism and ableism visible and to enable encounters that would be impossible under any other conditions. The performances often take place at unconventional sites or also outdoors. Through the transition between spoken languages and languages of movement and through putting the proscenium to good use, Zwoisy Mears-Clarke’s choreographies offer the opportunity to meet oneself and other people anew.

Duration: 30 min. / in German and German Sign Language

Please note: Catering will not be available during the performance on Frankenplatz. For the location of sanitary facilities, please check the map.

PDF Map Frankenplatz HERE
PDF Barrierefreiheit Frankplatz (German) HERE