+ — INFINITY

+–INFINITY is a dance theater production created and directed by Heidi Carlsen in collaboration with the performers. Research for the work included Ryszard Kapuściński’s book Imperium, and the writings of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. It explored the diverse methods women use to maintain freedom within a totalitarian regime. Within this context three Women are forced to face the positive (+) and negative (–) aspects of themselves. As they struggle with balancing their morals while making decisions in an impossible reality, their unconscious, a visible “watcher,” hovers over them.

I am moved by Armenian history and the beauty of their ancient alphabet. Having been invaded continuously by foreign armies and forced to flee, Armenians historically believed the fate of their books determined their own fate, therefore they would flee with their books on their backs. Some books were so heavy they were divided in half. Kapuściński writes, “These halves often roamed to different ends of the earth.“ Inspired by this and Plato’s Symposium, the three Women characters are looking for their other halves. The movement section in this excerpt of +– INFINITY is the Armenian alphabet brought to life. The actors adapted the shape of language and transformed it into movement vocabulary.

It was presented at Zajezdnia Tramwajowa (a performance warehouse) in Wrocław, Poland, with support from the Fulbright Association. Actors include: Sarah Kocz, Marta Mączewska, Weronika Podkowska. Music composed by Maciej Markowski and performed live by Małe Instrumenty.

“+ — INFINITY,” 2008, Video, 7 mins.