The view from below upwards revolutionises the perception of dance and enables a new, unprecedented expansion of perspective and a shift of boundaries.
At a height of 1.50 metres, a small, transparent dance floor, below which the audience can lie down, limited to 6 people:
The change of perspective creates great intimacy, but also shifts power relations, plays with gravity and implies the observers looking straight upwards, very close to the bodies of the dancers, who seem to float above them.
Who is watching whom here, who is exposed to whom? Proximity allows closeness and familiarity, which makes us vulnerable, but at the same time creates complicity. Front and back, above and below are redefined, the spectators lose their orientation.
Proximity
a dance performance for 6 spectators
Proximity
Premiere: 22 + 23 March 2024
ARGEkultur Salzburg, Performdance
dance: Weng Teng Choi-Buttinger, Nikola Majtanova, Jerca Rožnik Novak
stage set: Menie Weissbacher
composition: Thierry Zaboitzeff
light design: Thomas Hinterberger
tailoring: Cvetanka Mojsovski
choreography: Editta Braun
length: 28 min.
Weng Teng Choi-Buttinger - dance
* 1992 in Macao, graduated in classical ballet from the Hong Kong Academy, danced in Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, among others. Several prizes, also for her own choreographies, including in Macau, Taipei and Edinburgh. BA at the ABPU Linz. Married in Austria, mother of two children. Performs with e b c in: Hydráos, Proximity, ATCHA ! https://we-cie.com
Nikola Majtanova - dance
* 1996 in Slovakia, BA in Contemporary Dance and Pedagogy at the ABPU Linz. Engagements at the Landestheater Linz, collaboration with Laja Martin, Darrel Toulon, Marion Sparber, Nikol as Paul, Jan Lauwers, Paul Blackman. In addition to her performances, Nikola also works as a dance teacher.
Performs with e b c in: ALLES ANDERS, Proximity, ATCHA !
Jerca Rožnik Novak - dance
* 1992 in Slovenia. BA and MA in Contemporary Dance and Pedagogy at the ABPU Linz. Engagements with Willi Dorner, Rose Breuss, Silke Grabinger, Gisela Elisa Heredia. Since 2014 member of SILK Fluegge, the artist collective RADIATOR (Ljubljana/SLO) and e b c. https://jercarozniknovak.com
Performs with e b c in: instant, trails, ALLES ANDERS, Proximity, ATCHA !
Thierry Zaboitzeff - composition
* 1953 in northern France, co-founder, composer and style-defining protagonist of the avant-garde rock formation ART ZOYD, world tours. Founded "Zaboitzeff & Crew" in 1999. Freelance composer and musician, creates music for film, events, theatre and dance in addition to his own projects (e.g. the composition for Klangwolke Linz). Release of 28 albums. www.zaboitzeff.org
Thomas Hinterberger - lighting Design
* 1959 in Linz, director and lighting designer, works with various ensembles (editta braun company, Taka Tuka Theatre, Stifterhaus Linz, Dramos Teatras Kaunas). Received the Upper Austrian Theatre Recognition Award in 2004.
Menie Weissbacher - stage design
* 1964 in St. Martin bei Lofer, photographer and filmmaker with a large photo and film studio in Hallein, advertising photography in the fields of classic advertising, industry, image, fashion and product.
https://studio-weissbacher.com
Editta Braun - artistic direction, choreography, set design
* 1958, studied (German language and literature, sports science), dance and acting in New York and Paris. 1982 foundation of the performance collective Vorgänge, 1989 of the editta braun company Salzburg. Annual creations, on tour worldwide, international co-operations. International co-operations. Since 1996 close collaboration with Thierry Zaboitzeff (music, composition). Teaching in Linz, Salzburg and Vienna, among other places, International Prize for Art and Culture of the City of Salzburg 2014, Grand Art Prize of the Province of Salzburg 2017.
