Inspired by Marlen Haushofer's „Die Wand“ and Sten Nadolny's „Ein Gott der Frechheit“, the choreography immerges a woman into a world of absolute solation, captured with herself, in a struggle against loneliness.
Paula is loneliness, constriction, an unhoused existence - and the attempt to remember, to bethink one’s origins, the essentials. Being on one’s own, a human among metallic items, life among lifeless materials. At times, the limitations hurt, at times there is a kind of self-sufficient pleasure, then fury bursts out and suddenly the borders seem to disappear by force of evocation. Fantasy blasts everything that confines the quest for what really counts.
During her last production Iris Heitzinger sang „Hoamatlandl” (“home country”), thus hitting a nerve in Editta Braun, coming from Upper Austria like her. She had been wanting to work with this charismatic young dancer and choreographer for a long time whose moving qualities she appreciates as well as her choreographies. The overdue collaboration is actually delighting both of them through a deep complicity that feeds on their common origins, on rural-provincial socialization and joint memories. Working in dialect opens supplementary dimensions of mutual understanding.
Two novels serve as a source of inspiration: In „Die Wand“ Marlene Haushofer, Upper Austrian-born like them, writes about a woman who is suddenly thrown back on herself in the solitude of the mountains, among animals, cut off the rest of the world – or whatever is left of it. In Sten Nadolny’s „Ein Gott der Frechheit“ Editta Braun was fascinated by the role of metal as an embodiment of modern life, symbol for the appropriation of nature by mankind. Starting from here, in a space invented by Arturas Valudskis and with the support of Thierry Zaboitzeff’s compositions, Editta Braun and Iris Heitzinger create together a small world, in which there is astonishingly much space for humanity.
«Paula»
by editta braun company & Iris Heitzinger
Premiere: 11 October 2014, tanz_house festival Salzburg, ARGEkultur
dance, creation, performance: Iris Heitzinger
composition: Thierry Zaboitzeff
lightdesign: Thomas Hinterberger
stage-set: Arturas Valudskis
dramaturgy: Gerda Poschmann-Reichenau
artistic direction, choreography, idea: Editta Braun
photos: Bettina Frenzel, Leo Fellinger
Iris Heitzinger
Born in 1980 in Austria, choreographer, performer and teacher. BA contemporary dance at Bruckernuniversity Linz. Freelance choreographer, dancer and teacher. Collaborations with: Group LaBolsa & Thomas Hauert, Guillermo Weickert, Natalia Jiménez, Vincent Dance Theatre, Cie. Laroque, H2Dance, Cia. Lanónima Imperial, a.o. Creates own work since 2008 in Austria and Spain, teaches contemporary dance, composition and improvisation throughout Europe, in Canada and Japan. Her work is based on an interest in interdisciplinary collaborations, which investigate the spontaneous-creative potential of the body within the frame of instant composition systems. Performs with e b c in: Paula and LoSt, creates for e b c human
teaser «Paula»
full length «LoSt»
Paula
Photos by Bettina Frenzel
Photo by Leo Fellinger