The body + the other between the boundaries of Realworld//Dreamworld//Digitalworld
Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf 1-18 November 2019
Dare Dance Digitalize was funded and traveled to Dusseldorf, Germany for 18 days (1-18/11/2019). It was selected as one of 30, out of a total of 700 applications from artistic groups (dance-performance & visual artists) from all over Europe, in the framework of the 2nd round of the European program "i-portunus creative europe mobility project", funded by The European Union. It was a co-production of the Dare Dance Digitalize The 3D project , the Stadtmuseum Dusseldorf (the City Museum of Dusseldorf) and the organization KRASS in Dusseldorf, in which artists offer workshops to vulnerable groups of children and young people.
From 2.11 to 15.11, Antonis Bertos carried out performative interdisciplinary methodology research in the area of the museum's exhibitions. The Stadtmuseum Dusseldorf is a three-story museum with a multitude of exhibits. The first floor is dedicated to contemporary art, while the next two floors are dedicated to historical Düsseldorf exhibits (historical costumes and objects from the Middle Ages). The central goal of the project design was to investigate the boundaries between the realworld, the dreamworld and the digital world.
It started from the initial thought and need to communicate the following: All of our lives are a constant negotiation between what is true now and what could be true in the future. In our everyday life it is like living in two parallel worlds - the real one and the dream one - our thoughts and our dreams. Only through the negotiation of real and dream can we arrive at a more substantial reality. The digital piece explored communication through the visual capture of the dream element.
This relationship was explored in the following ways-media: The interaction of the performer-dancers (live exhibits) with the museum exhibits, but also the use of video as an exhibit.
More specifically, Antonis Bertos carried out the following performative interdisciplinary methodology researches:
- 5.11-15.11 Investigation of the relationship of his body, as a performer in interaction with the exhibits and the visitors of the museum
- 9.11 In collaboration with Anna Kempin, a graduate of the Cologne State School of Dance, exploring the relationship of her body with exhibits of her choice. Which exhibits she chooses and how she interacts with them to render the real-dream-digital connection (video)
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12.11 In collaboration with Tasi Halle, artist of KRASS Dusseldorf and opera singer in a theater in Cologne, investigation of the relationship of the song with exhibits of her choice, in order to render the connection between real and dreamlike (live performance)
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16.11 Final show for Key Actors of Dusseldorf, with performers Artemis Manakou and Nikos Karapanagos, designed by Antonis Bertos.
In addition, Antonis Bertos carried out the following community actions:
2.11-11.11 physical theater training programs for 10 elementary school children in the Meineckestrasse refugee camp
14.11 educational program of non-violent communication, physical theater and videodance for 30 teenagers at the Hellenic High School of Dusseldorf
All of the above visual and representational research was done with the deeper goal of discovering how we can stand and see each other (usually we pass the other, the different, so quickly that we make him invisible). Above all, to see each other's dreams, to share them, so as to create new channels of communication and interconnection.
"The Body and the City we inhabit through two videodance works // OWhen digital media become allies of the body and the public space"
The presentation by Antonis Bertou that was selected and presented at the Conference "The body in the public space as an experience and as a practice" at the Mediterranean Architecture Center (Chania) co-organized by the Dance Days Chania Festival and theSchool of Architectural Engineering, Technical University of Crete, on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
Scientific Committee:
Alexandros Vazakas (Architect, Associate Professor P.K.)
Dr. Ariadni Mikou (Architect, Dance Researcher)
Dr. Steriani Tsintziloni (Assistant Professor, Department of Theater Studies, EKPA)
Dimitra Hatzisavva (Architect, Associate Professor P.K.)
Sofia Falierou (Choreographer, Dance Days Chania Artistic Director)
As a scientist and as an artist it concerns me very much as it does many of us the issue of acceptance of diversity.
The structure of my proposal consists of two parts:
In Part 1 we will watch excerpts from the film work for dance entitled, L' image inconsciente du corps, which I have created with Dare Dance Digitalize.
It is inspired by the book of the same name by the French psychoanalyst Francois Dolteau, which means "the unconscious body image"
Then and on this occasion, we will refer at the starting point of things which is the relationship with the self and how our self inhabits our body. Then how this sense of self experiences the public space.
In Part B we will watch excerpts from Rise.Fall.Rise Again by Dare Dance Digitalize where I will refer to the process of awareness and self-determination of the individual in relation to the Other in the public space.
PART I
In L' image inconsciente du corps I focused on the relationship with the self and the unconscious image of the body in the public space. The public space here played the role of both a real and an internalized space on the fringes of conscious and unconscious. More specifically, the Valliani Mansion of the National Library on Panepistimi Street in Athens was ideal. Thanks to the majestic spiraling marble stairs, we were able to place the entrance of the dancer symbolizing the conscious from the right scale and the dancer symbolizing the unconscious from the left scale. Their meeting place is the entrance of the library with the doors, however, hermetically closed to the inside of the building, just like our unconscious. The choreography is mainly linear to match the architectural lines of the library. Intermediate transitional object of the two worlds (conscious and unconscious) and the two bodies of the dancers becomes a material with great plasticity, the white rice paper: thin, malleable transparent and opaque at the same time.
At this point I would like to introduce the concept of the term 'unconscious body image'. As the psychoanalyst writes Francoise Dolto in her book of the same title: ''Body shape is common to all people. It defines the individual as a representative of the human species, regardless of place, time or conditions under which he lives.
But the image of the body is personal to everyone: it is connected to the subject and to his history. Background of narcissism, it is par excellence unconscious. It is the symbolic embodiment of the desired subject. The body image is at all times the unconscious memory of all experienced relationships and at the same time it is current, alive, dynamic: it can be disguised or present in the here and now relationship. Every contact, every communication with ourselves and the other is based on body image.
It was very important to me to find a connection between the deep inner space with the outside and the public.
At this point came the camera, as a gaze with intent. To include, to integrate all the pieces that were separated, the fragmented self, a look of complete acceptance, a healing look. A look that embraces existence. A look that builds human relationships. A look that surrounds, highlights, heals, inspires. This look that those people who have received it, remember it throughout their lives.
PART II
The Rise.Fall.Rise Again explores the concept of identity, otherness and acceptance of difference. At the beginning, he places the bodies of the three performers in the urban space, in one of the most central spots of Athens on Panepistimiou Street in Propylaia. A space where we could say that it is the heart of the city's everyday life, but also the point where collective claims begin.
The elements of each person's identity unfold through the dipole I am/I am not, with a clear goal of self-determination that the person himself chooses because he wishes. The narrative is led into a resounding ´´mobilizing cry´´ by the three performers: ´´I am not afraid of diversity´´ and ´´I will fight against any discrimination´´ - I will fight against any discrimination . The last scene is placed on the railway bridge of the 'Piraeus-Kifisia' electric railway, at Kallithea station. It captures the connection but also the failure to connect, the vulnerability the victories against discrimination and exclusion but also the defeats
In ´´Rise.Fall.Rise Again´´ the body drawn from the outside, an unbridled urge of the body to connect with the other bodies of the city: to make all the identities of people visible and essentially respected. I am my body, I am my city, we are the people who fight together for common values, for something bigger.
The viewers are in front of images concerning the battle of the modern body, against discrimination, exclusions and fears of otherness, which is often unequal and leads the body to successive falls.
An important role and source of inspiration for ´´Rise.Fall.Rise Again´´ was the complex musical universe of the Norwegian band Ulver, a band that experiments with many different musical genres. In their musical composition ´´So falls the world´´, I supported the image of modern bodies that fall with every heterophobic attack-extremism-murder: It is as if not only the victim of the attack but also the whole humanity - the whole world.
Here comes the concept of inner immensity. Inner immensity is the 8th chapter of Gaston Bachelard's excellent book "The Poetics of Space": The 8th chapter of this excellent book begins with Rilke's phrase. ´´The world is big, but inside us it is as deep as the sea.´´. For every body crumpled to the ground literally or figuratively by a heterophobic attack, there will always be a sense of immensity to which we can connect and create physical and internal space to rise again and shout with voice, with our body, with our whole ``being'': I am not afraid of diversity and - I will fight against any discrimination.
In conclusion, I consider it very important that the dance be done a central, a crucial discourse for our time and the public space a central and crucial space. Digital media can prove to be very important allies for the above purpose. Let us feel in our bodies, this unbridled urge, to relate to people from different fields and to fight a common struggle: for the body, dance, public dance, the sense of community and the sharing of thoughts and feelings, space to to listen to the other person and for all identities to become visible and essentially respected.
The unconscious image of the body:
Concept-Dramaturgy: Antonis Mpertos
Directions:Antonis Mpertos - Vangelis Papevangeliou
Kinesiology :Antonis Mpertos
Dancers: Melina Davveta,Konstantina Latari
Cinematography-Editing: Vangelis Papevangeliou
Original Music: Sylvein (NL)
Recording/Mixing :Manos Apostolopoulos
Production: Dare.Dance.Digitalize
Based on: Francoise Dolto's psychoanalytic work
Rise Fall Rise Again
Concept-Dramaturgy:Antonis Mpertos
Directions:Antonis Mpertos - Vangelis Papevangeliou
Performers: Ina Varka,Ioanna Karategou, Antonis Mpertos
Cinematography-Editing:Vangelis Papevangeliou
Original Music:Ulver
Production:Dare.Dance.Digitalize
Special Thanks: Natalia Petala, Jacklin Fischer (Theater der Klaenge), Artemis Manakou, Kymothoi Studio, Maria Zervou, Arbeit Und Leben, Fenna Godhoff
Funded by:Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women & German-Greek Youth Office
Hybrid Program'' I AM ANOTHER ''
Athens // Monemvasia // Düsseldorf
HinoJanuary 2022 - January 2023
"i am another" was a multifaceted and complex project designed by Antonis Bertos together with choreographer Jacqueline Fischer fromTHEATER DER KLÄNGE in Düsseldorf, Natalie Petalas and Julia Hallebach responsible for iJAB (International Youth Activities Service) in Bonn and Fenna Godhoff from the youth organizationArbeit und Leben NRW . 4 organizations collaborated:DARE DANCE DIGITALIZE (Athens),Kimothoi - Kimothoi Performing Arts Center Thoi (Monemvasia) Theater der Klange and Arbeit und Leben (Düsseldorf,). 35 young men and women, 18-29 years old from Greece and Germany, participated in the program. The participants were professional young dancers, young political scientists, sociologists and young filmmakers. The aim of the program was for the young people to meet and with the guidance of professionals to create videodance, video and live dance performance against racism and with additional themes the concepts of identity and otherness.
The program was divided into three phases:
Phase I: The meetings from February 2022 until the beginning of July took place online between Greece and Germany.
In Phase A, the young people using cameras provided by the program shot short videos from their cities Athens and Düsseldorf, on the topic of racism, identity and otherness.
Phase II: 8-day residency in Kymothoi in Monemvasia and open air presentation at the castle.
Phase III: 8-day residency atTHEATER DER KLÄNGE in Düsseldorf and presentation in the theater of the Humbold Gymnasium
The program was funded by:
A+B phase:
-German Ministry of Youth (Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth)
-Greek-German Youth Foundation (EGIN-DGJW).
- With the support of the program "Living Labs: International Places for
Tolerance' of iJAB (International Youth Work Bonn/Germany).
Phase III:
-German Ministry of Youth (Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth)
During Phase A, in addition to Jacqueline Fischer and Antonis Bertos, Artemis Manakou (physical theater), Maria Zervou (theatre pedagogy), Vangelis Papaevageliou (cinematic techniques) and Jeorg Lensing (sound design) taught.
We collaborated with the translator and language animator Melina Laina from the organization Vision Networks Athens. In Phase A of the program, the JFF (Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice) - a research center in Cologne that conducts research on the trends of young people with new media, participated as an observer, with researcher Franciska Koschei.
During Phase A of the program we had the pleasure and honor of having twoguest speakers:
- HerAktina Stathakis responsible for its artistic programming1927 art space, which presented us online, research and photographic material from the exhibition "madder and madder and hotter and hotter" on the subject of the Black Lives Matter movement and the history of racist violence in America.
- HerProfessor of Ethnology at Panteion University, Mrs. Irini Toundassaki, which made a presentation on issues of alterity and identity.
In the second phase of the program in Monemvasia, additional seminars-presentations were held by:
-Ramiro Gabriel Valerio Lemez : "Partnering"
-Betty Angelopoulou and Maya Gourtsogianni:"Mindful Process of creating our "Alter Ego" using the technique of collage"
-Paola Evelina Gallarato: Presentation of part of her photographic work with contemporary dancers in Germany
In the 3rd phase of the program in Düsseldorf, we visited a reception center for refugees-immigrants in the city center, where a refugee from Afghanistan spoke to us about his experiences as well as the head of the center.
Additional contact and partnering seminar byGeronimo Dorcas.
The final event in Dusseldorf featured the following musicians:Antonius Papamichail, Helena Katsiavara, Mariam Thamnopoulou and Konstantinos Angelopoulos
Create a Poster: Kyriakos Kalogerinis (Monemvasia), Thanos Raptis (Dusseldorf)
Photo credits:Paola Evelina Gallarato
The new participants of the program:
Sophia Martiou, Mary Giannoula, Sophia Otto, Yun Sun Choi Sunny, Ina Varka, Ioanna Karategou, Joséphine Lensing, Fotini Karagiannis, Mariam Thamnopolou Mia Merker, Miltos Mastrogiannis, Timon Aydin, Konstantinos Angelopoulos, Michael Bayen, Carl Brandenburger, Frieda Boss, Despina Gazi, Angelos Panagos, Yiannis Panagos, Panagiotis Manakos, Angeliki Katsomalliari, Christianna X, Sofia Chionidis, Lena Amarantidis, Myrto Stolidis, Nefeli Kastania et al.
A very big "thank you" and deep gratitude for those who believed in the "I am another" program, believed in Dare.Dance.Digitalize and contributed in their way and from their position to create beautiful and meaningful meetings-bonds-relationships and artistic works against racism and any kind of exclusion.
