‘Everything that was not suffered to the end and finally concluded, recurred, and the same sorrows were undergone.’ Hermann Hesse
Two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents… sixteen… thirty-two… Our ancestors bequest a lot to our genes, bones, and subconscious.
Ulduz Ahmazadeh and her ATASHعطش contemporary dance company decided to do some genealogical research. In Ancestors’ Banquet, they take a closer look at what our relations have passed down to us.
A banquet of ancestors: From when they are born, people carry their forebears’ experiences in them, including war. Trauma handed down from one generation to the next is often invisible at first glance – subcutaneous, burned deep into biographies and places over decades. In this performance, the dancers embark on a forensic journey into their own blood, breaking the silence and finally allowing the spirits to speak through them, on their way to liberation and transformation.
Trigger warning
This performance involves topics, images, and smells that may evoke memories of war in some spectators depending on their personal sensitivity and experience.
ATASHعطش contemporary dance company was established by the choreographer, dancer, and researcher Ulduz Ahmadzadeh. Together with scenographer Till Krappmann, Ahmadzadeh works at the intersection of dance, performance, video, installation, theory, documentation, and activism. In various collaborations, the artist duo produces pieces in which dance is at the centre. Their most recent trilogy – Under Cover, Force Majeure, and TARAB – was produced in co-operation with Tanzquartier Wien and is touring internationally.
Artistic co-director, concept, choreography Ulduz Ahmadzadeh Artistic co-director, concept, scenography Till Krappmann Concept, dramaturgy Anne Wiederhold-Daryanavard Composition, electronic live music Adrián Artacho Performance, co-creation Desi Bonato, Naline Ferraz, Flora Virag, Xianghui Zeng, Anne Wiederhold-Daryanavard Live music Lorina Vallaster (English flutes, voice), Anna Maria Niemiec (violoncello, voice) Lighting design Paul Eisemann Choreographic collaboration Annelie Andre Scenography in collaboration with Abigail Marcillo Consulting expert Claudia Wielander Production management Mascha Mölkner
A co-production of ATASH عطش contemporary dance company and brut Wien. With the kind support of the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the BMKÖS, the Zukunftsfond and the 3rd district of Vienna.
The performance on April 28th will be followed by an artist talk (Moderated by Solmaz Khorsand).
brut nordwest
Nordwestbahnstraße 8-10, 1200 Vienna
accessible
Nordwestbahnstraße 8-10, 1200 Vienna
Subway: U1, U2 (Praterstern), U4 (Friedensbrücke), U6 (Dresdnerstraße) Tram: 5 (Nordwestbahnstraße) Bus: 5A (Wasnergasse)
not accessible
Zieglergasse 25, 1070 Wien
Subway: U3 (Zieglergasse), Tram: 49 (Westbahnstraße / Zieglergasse)
Eschenbachgasse 11 / Ecke Getreidemarkt, 1010 Vienna
U-Bahn: U4, U1 (Karlsplatz), Tram: 1, 2, D, 71 (Burgring), Bus: 57A (Getreidemarkt)