Dana Michel

The absurdity and tragedy of work, in a choreography that refuses efficiency.

If we cannot be ourselves at work, where we spend so much of our time, what kind of life are we living? Is it possible to live public lives that reflect our inner selves?

These are some of the questions that inspired Dana Michel to create this three-hour deambulation in a workspace filled with functional objects. In this world, her everyday actions become choreographic experiments. Every action is interrupted, losing its fluidity, as if her body has become imprisoned by routine repetition.

As the sun sets behind this former office building in Marvila, Dana Michel retraces the gestures and aesthetics of a day of work. With serious playfulness, she highlights the absurdity and tragedy in the balancing act of work and life.


This durational performance invites audiences to move around the space (some seating is available). Witnessing the full experience is recommended, but you can freely leave and re-enter if necessary.

Credits

Created and performed by Dana Michel Artistic activators Viva Delorme, Ellen Furey, Peter James, Heidi Louis, Tracy Maurice, Roscoe Michel, Karlyn Percil, Yoan Sorin Scenographic consultant – Technical direction Romain Guillet Sound consultant David Drury Production SCORP CORPS – Viva Delorme, Dana Michel Distribution neon lobster – Giulia Messia & Katharina Wallisch Funded by Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie and Conseil des Arts de Montréal Coproduced by ARSENIC – Centre d’art scénique contemporain (Lausanne, Switzerland), Centre national des Arts (Ottawa, Canada), Festival TransAmériques (Montreal, Canadá), Julidans Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels, Belgium), MDT (Stockholm, Sweden), Montpellier Danse (France), Moving in November (Helsinki, Finland), Wexner Center for the Arts of The Ohio State University in Colombus (USA) Creative residencies Alkantara (Lisbon / Portugal), ANTI Festival (Kuopio, Finland), Centre national des Arts (Ottawa, Canadá), Kinosaki International Arts Center and Kyoto Experiment (Japão), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Bruxelas, Bélgica), Künstler* innenhaus Mousonturm (Frankfurt, Alemanha), Montpellier Danse (France) résidence de création à l’Agora, cité internationale de la danse, with support by BNP Paribas Foundation, RIMI/ IMIR SceneKunst (Stavanger, Norway), Shedhalle (Zurich, Switzerland) with support by Tanzhaus Zürich and Embassy of Canada in Switzerland, The Chocolate Factory (New York, USA)

The presentation of this show in Portugal is supported by Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

This performance is copresented with Teatro Nacional D. Maria II.