The relationship to the other. Touching implies loving attention but also distance, not wanting, not being able to hold. The boundary between one’s own body and the other as a place, as a boundary that is the reality of our life: a boundary to the other as the Thou or as the environment or as a mirror. How can we touch this boundary and send signs from its outer edge?

In his work, the Austrian choreographer Philipp Gehmacher poses very precise, fundamental questions – questions of dance and of general human relationships. His movements connect the dancing body with the everyday body without generating simple, representative images. Only just discernible.

For three years Gehmacher carried on his research on body and space in different contexts – among other things in collaboration with Meg Stuart and in video installations with Vladimir Miller, of which ”dead reckoning” was screened at last year’s herbst. He is now concentrating on his own, live movement material with a major new piece for theatre, on presence as a mode of showing and sharing: how can the three performers share their states, how do they become permeable for the audience, which is not separated by a raised stage? How can they lend form to their movement and, at the same time, open up to the outside? Stand still and gaze as a means of exploring the other person – so as not to be framed, in the picture. The gesture as a sign left strewn in space. Bodies that communicate like they are speaking. Signs that communicate, express and yet only exhibit a line in space.

In ”in their name”, Rémy Héritier, An Kaler and Philipp Gehmacher cast concepts and sentences into space like signs, they say their name as if they need to remember, as if they want to mark off a point and make sure of themselves.

Choreografie: Philipp Gehmacher
Tänzerin / Tänzer: Philipp Gehmacher
Tänzerin / Tänzer: Rémy Héritier
Tänzerin / Tänzer: An Kaler

Mediathek