What potential lies dormant in the spaces in between?
“HYBRID: I am A.L.I.E.N.“ is an autobiographical solo performance that explores with the search for balance in times of change. It reflects on personal and social upheavals and shows how uncertainty and loss can serve as a basis for creative agency.
The physically challenging floor made of plastic ice, characterized by limited gliding ability and unexpected resistance, becomes a symbol for navigating altered foundations of life. It opens up new approaches to balance and movement and represents the balancing of opposites.
The performance creates space for exploring themes such as identity, adaptation and transformation. It invites to understand the interplay between standstill and movement, uncertainty and orientation as a source of new impulses and to develop new perspectives.
Enhanced by sound, projection, and visual narrative layers, “HYBRID: I am A.L.I.E.N.“ combines dance, theatre, new circus, and contemporary ice skating into a transdisciplinary stage performance.
“HYBRID: I am A.L.I.E.N.“ can be played in two versions, each opening up different spaces of experience.
"off into the gap" (approx. 60 minutes) begins with a precise examination of the materiality of ice, plastic and ice skates as well as the structures of competitive sport and show business. The factual analysis reveals challenges and adaptation strategies. As the piece progresses, the perspective shifts: the analytical approach gives way to a physical confrontation that makes the conflict between limitation and the search for self-empowerment visually and emotionally tangible.
"right through the middle" (approx. 55 minutes) follows a poetic and atmospheric narrative approach that centers on the perception of instability. Through physical and emotional impulses, it creates an intense sense of transitional states, in which stability and orientation are continuously renegotiated. A sensuous access to change unfolds as a process that holds both challenge and potential.
Development Steps and Supporters
The project “HYBRID: I am A.L.I.E.N.“ grew out of dramaturgical training with Dr. Maren Witte, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media in the program NEUSTART KULTUR, [aid program DIS-TANZEN] of the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, 2022.
Kultur Räume Berlin supported the self-funded movement research and the development of initial scenic material in 2023 by repeatedly providing a rehearsal space in its raw state.
A scenic finalization of the version
“off into the gap“ took place with further support in July 2024.
Dramaturgy: Maren Witte
LAKE Studios Berlin is funding in-depth movement practice in the pilot residency program and an initial work showing with a 20-minute excerpt in the Unfinished Fridays event series, 2024.
Dramaturgy: Maren Witte
On-site support: Angie Flanagan, Birgit Aust
With the inclusion in the Zirkus ON Mentoring Program 2024/2025, the second version “right through the middle“ is being developed for a contemporary circus audience, beginning with a Kick-off presentation pitch at the
CircusDance Festival in Cologne, 2024.
Mentors: Robert Sterzik and Liz Williams.
On-site support: Birgit Aust
The further development of the performance version “right through the middle“, with residency support is being made possible by Zirkus ON alliance partner Tollhaus Karlsruhe. A stage presentation of the work-in-progress took place at the ATOLL Festival, 2024.
Light & Tech: Cecilia Kohlrepp
Technical support: Kai Lim
Zirkus ON's alliance partner Schloss Bröllin supports the finalization of "HYBRID: I am A.L.I.E.N. – right through the middle“ through residencies and work showings in 2024 and 2025.
Outside-Eye : Joachim Mohr
Sound : Samaquias Lorta
Zirkus ON is being funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of the German Federal Association of the Independent Performing Arts's programme "Verbindungen fördern". Mentoring by Liz Williams and Robert Sterzik.