June already!
What has happened since our last post in April? Well, for a start, the previous post from the phone seems to have worked perfectly. We got the message across while on the train—how amazing. Could we have done it five years ago? (A brief diversion of excitement.)
Now back in London, after two months of travelling and performing, we feel a little zoned out. We are organising a new lifestyle around exciting projects and reflecting on the wonderful journey we have had. So much has happened that we could write a book.
Obviously, we are not going to do that, but I fear this will be a longer post than usual. For a generation—including us—for whom two minutes of video footage already feels too long, reading may become an even greater feat…
Back to the journey…
On tour, our concentration was at its peak every day, even when we had ten days between shows and were waiting for the next date on the calendar.
Performing was not what we set out to do, but, without realising it, it has become part of our lives. It is growing on us, and we cannot reject it. The risk and fear of walking into the unknown, all the way to its very end, make performing a very exciting experience.
On 3 May we were in Münster, Germany, performing in the wonderful space of the Westfälischer Kunstverein art gallery. In a joint effort with Theater im Pumpenhaus, they brought us onstage—or, more accurately in this case, into an art gallery for the first time.
On 9 and 10 May, we returned to our homeland, Salento in Puglia, performing in Lecce, Italy, for the second time, two years after our first visit, at the incredible Teatro Koreja. This time we performed in Italian for the first time, with help from Paola Lizza, who reawakened our Italian and rebuilt our grammar. It was not easy—believe us.
On 28 May, after missing our return flight while enjoying precious time with our family back in Neviano, we performed in Nottingham, UK, for the first time at the Lakeside Arts Centre. Dance4 invited us to take part in Nottingham’s world-class Neat Festival. We were amazed to be there, performing alongside so many talented artists.
Finally, on 10 June, we gave our first show in London, UK, at The Place, where 127 spectators filled the stage and we dived into their seats like crazy. We were part of Spring Loaded, a festival bringing together some of the most inventive new dance-makers working in the UK: artists loaded with new ideas and doing things differently from the norm. We were honoured to join them in exploring where dance might go next.
It has been an intense time, full of many “firsts”. Nevertheless, surrounded by the love of our friends and family, and encouraged by the many positive reviews we received, the experience was completely unique. Unforgettable.
“This Is That” will resume touring in Sweden this autumn…
Special thanks go to
- Kristina Scepanski, Joanna Yasirra Kluhs and Ludger Schnieder For the amazing week in Münster.
- Paola Lizza, Raffaele Birtele and Nino Stifani Along with the staff of Cantieri Teatrali Koreja and Franco Ungaro, for helping to make our performances in Lecce possible.
- Ruby Connor, Jim Hendley, Lakeside Arts Centre, Dance4 and Neat Festival For inviting us to be part of their fantastic festival in Nottingham.
- Eddie Nixon and Steven Brett The Director of The Place and the Artistic Director and Programmer of The Nightingale, for inviting us to perform in London.
- Kristian Jon Anshelm, Uli Ruchlinski and Philippe Blanchard For organising our tour, for the inspiring work and, without a doubt, for the opportunity to live through so many wonderful experiences.
… Love
