WIP hip pieceBillinger & Schulz

Fri 10.05.2024 | 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm
Staatstheater Darmstadt - Kammerspiele

As part of their pop-up residency, Verena Billinger & Sebastian Schulz give insights into the rehearsals for the new production of their piece hip piece from 2022 in this work in progress.

Rhythms that get your hips moving and your butt shaking and trembling: Shake your booty! We are showing a WIP of "hip piece" by choreographer duo Verena Billinger and Sebastian Schulz. The restaging of the piece from 2022, which was funded by the Tanzplattform Rhein-Main, is dedicated to the center of the body, the center of desire and lust, the motor of dance. Positioned in the middle of current cultural debates about appropriation and claims of ownership, eroticization and exoticization, sexualities and gender, identity politics and universalism. On stage: a group of dancers of different origins and dance backrounds who have been initiated into the art of hip-swinging by experts in Afro dance, Afro house, so-called oriental or belly dance, dancehall, various hip-hop styles (popping, locking, etc.), salsa and twerking. They present their approach to the newly learned movements - sometimes sober and vulnerable, analytical, sometimes playful and exuberant. And they explore dance as a way of freeing themselves from attributions and becoming more and different than they are at first glance.

Concept, choreography: Verena Billinger & Sebastian Schulz. Dance
Performance: Davide Degano, Magdalena Dzeco (original cast: Minju Kim), Camilla Fiumara, Frank Koenen (original cast: Thomas Bauer), Kyoko Oku
Costumes: Anika Baum. Project organization: Andrea Gerhold, Neele Renzland/transmissions GmbH.
Movement coaching: SuffianBangura, Niranh Chanthabouasy, Lena Drescher, Mariluz Fuente Figueredo, Gabriela Gleinig, Carina Maria Göllmann, Leila Nour
Lighting: Jimmy Kömpel
Photos: Florian Krauß