ACT OF GRAVITY

Who are we little humans eternally falling on this tiny planet while the laws of physics we strive to decipher constantly push and pull us around setting everything into motion?

With the use of a huge trampoline, cutting-edge visuals, music, acrobatics and in close dialogue with scientists, Act of Gravity is an illuminating experience for the mind and for the senses.

Thanks to the collaboration with our partner Science & Cocktails, the piece is presented in the informal context of a cocktail bar. While audiences enjoy their chilled drinks, every evening a renowned expert in physics will offer an introductory talk about the mind-boggling theories that have inspired the work.

THE COMPANY: RECOIL PERFORMANCE GROUP

Recoil is a Copenhagen-based performance group, founded in 2005 and led by choreographer Tina Tarpgaard. The group works with choreography and performances that cut across established aesthetic categories.

The driving force before Tina Tarpgaard’s creations has been to de-center the human from the performative space and to foster critical thinking through movement-based work. In her early performances, this took the form of interdependence between human movement and software art. In later years, she has focused on more analogue universes which have included other biological entities in an attempt to put into perspective human presence into the ecosystem and speculate about potential alliances and future scenario.

INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY

Recoil has built a strong network of international partners and presenters. In the last years through collaborations and presentations of the Membrane Project (link to: https://recoil-performance.org/the-memebrane-projekt). This trilogy of works has staged encounters between humans and other biological species which have been present in Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Brazil, Finland, the Faroe Islands or Spain through physical, digital or hybrid presentations.

With Act of Gravity and the partnership with Science & Cocktails, Recoil is aiming at bringing together science enthusiasts, cocktail lovers and contemporary dance followers. Although the piece is ready to tour on its own, Recoil’s vision for international presentations includes exploring different ways to extend this cross-sectorial collaboration. Live or streamed science-talks of renowned scientists before each show, including local experts of each country, would become a formula to bridge performance art and science dissemination in festivals and performance venues.

Additionally, Recoil will continue with their presence in traditional platforms and networks like IETM, CINARS, Ice Hot or Tanzmesse. Finally, their participation in CPH Stage in the last years has proven crucial in strengthening their international profile.

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CONTACT PERSON

Carlos Calvo, Creative Producer, carlos@recoil-performance.org, +45 25687156

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FORMAT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Act of Gravity is designed to play frontally on stages or halls with min 7m height, 14m width and 9m depth. A custom-made trampoline of 9×6 meters constitutes the main physical element in dialogue with the bodies of the performers. This is elevated to 1,5m high so audiences can remain on a flat seating plan on ground level and looking up (seats on risers can work too). Some masking out is necessary.

Recoil is designing custom-made light equipment to travel lightly. The large trampoline is designed to fit into a small truck or container. Recoil is interested to engage into longer international commitments which can be scheduled around performances to reduce the number of international travels and maximize its impact. Encounters with professionals or citizens of all ages around choreographic work building on existing talent, memory, and resources.

Furthermore, the large trampoline of the set will be used in Denmark during non-touring periods for free school workshops. This will bring hundreds of students in Copenhagen in close physical encounter with an element which will render tangible concepts of physics and the human body. This will extend the lifetime of the physical production and amplify its social impact without the use of extra resources.

LANGUAGE

Nonverbal

AUDIENCE TARGET GROUP(S)

With science talk: +12/ without science talk: +5

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