English translation:
"Themes like isolation and loneliness have been repeatedly explored by Munich-based choreographer Jasmine Ellis, who has Canadian roots. Now, however, in “Everything That’s Wrong With Me”, Jasmine Ellis excels with an ensemble that intricately interweaves dance, movement, sound, and lyrics. The piece transitions from soloistic moments into visually and musically impactful tableaus.
Surrounded by a ghostly, dimly lit atmosphere, the team embarks on a journey to uncover the intersections between identity and creativity. Jasmine Ellis has assembled a cast of expressive and technically impressive dancers: Bea Bidault, Luca Cacitti, Heinrich Charles, Alex Clair, Kim Kohlmann, and Jacob Thoman. The composition and music are created by Olicía (Anna-Lucia Rupp, Fama M’Boup) and Lukas Bamesreiter, who remain central to the action, fueling it with their lyrics and sound. Ellis consistently finds ways for plausible interweavings and, even in the most physical explorations of the stage, creates opportunities for her diverse performers to interact seamlessly.
Perhaps the most striking moment comes in a scene where singer Anna-Lucia repeatedly sings “Bring me peace” as she endures increasing pressure from the ensemble. They overwhelm her with sheer empathetic fury, clinging to her until her voice is smothered under a mass of intertwined bodies. The motif of vanishing and reappearing is used cleverly throughout, aided by stage and costume designs from Nanako Oizumi and Sarah Kaldewey, with fabrics that can be effortlessly manipulated on cue.
The piece begins on a dark stage, with the protagonists faintly visible under a kind of canopy in the background. Lukas Bamesreiter's first lyric for the evening declares: “We are the dreamers of our lives.” Gradually, the dance collective transitions to the foreground, initially directing their focus solely on the musicians. The audience, whom the program notes describe as witnessing a redefinition of “normality and deviation”, is gradually drawn into the heart of this concert-like production.
By the end, the dancers crawl in slow motion across the stage in a staggered formation while the singers amplify their volume to the maximum. Emotional solos erupt, wind sweeps through the set, and the climactic energy fades into silence. Finally, “Everything That’s Wrong With Me” delivers a quiet, somewhat esoteric and sentimental surprise to close. "
- Vesna Mlakar
ABENDZEITUNG DIENSTAG, 5. NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.ABENDZEITUNG.DE
