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Steps: Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival

«Dances Like a Bomb»
Junk Ensemble (IRL), Jessica & Megan Kennedy

DanceTheatre

A powerful and uplifting duet exploring ageing and caring. As part of the Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps, the multi-award-winning dance theater company Junk Ensemble is coming to the Gessnerallee.

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  • Wed 18/0320:00–21:00

    Moving introduction to ‘Dances like a bomb’ at 7:40 p.m.

    Halle

    Few remaining tickets at the box office

'Dances Like a Bomb' is a hilarious and heartfelt dance theatre evening about ageing. Copyright: Stefano Scanferla

“Dances Like a Bomb” is a duet that tackles the subject of age(ing) and care with humor and tenderness. Behind this successful production are Irish twin sisters Jessica and Megan Kennedy from Junk Ensemble. Together with the performers, they have created a dance theater piece that provides insight into the relationship between two older people: former Pina Bausch dancer Finola Cronan and actor Luc Dunberry meet in a dark room. What unfolds over the course of the following hour is an entertaining sequence of short scenes that culminate in a devoted and touching dance evening: sometimes theatrical, sometimes vulnerable, and often hilarious. For as intense as their feelings for each other are, they are just as determined to defend their independence. As they lift each other up only to push each other back down to the ground a moment later, age becomes a “performance” and reveals something deeply human: our worst and our best sides.

‘Surreal, beautiful and extraordinarily human’ THE LIST 

'Big, powerful’ THE TIMES

‘Intriguing ... clever ... poignant’ THE STAGE

‘Macabre and comical ... a delight’ THE GUARDIAN

‘Superb performers …. A heartfelt celebration of two people growing old together’ THE IRISH TIMES

‘Dances like a bomb’ is presented as part of the Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps.

Moving introduction

At 7:40 p.m., Jessica or Megan Kennedy from the Junk Ensemble Company will give a moving introduction in Nordflügel. The audience is invited to experience the play in a physical way. In this format, simple movement sequences from the play will be taught and central themes will be explored through improvisation. The introduction will last approximately 15 minutes.

Information on accessibility and language

  • Stepless access

  • For ages 12 and up

  • In spoken English with subtitles in German.

  • The moving introduction will be held in spoken English with translation into sign language (DSGS). If you have any other accessibility requirements, please contact steps@mgb.ch.

  • Dances Like a Bomb is a dance piece.

    It is about growing older and caring for others.

    Jessica and Megan Kennedy from Ireland created the piece.

    Finola Cronan and Luc Dunberry dance on stage.

    Both are older artists.

    They portray their relationship with humour, tenderness and conflict.

    The piece is funny, touching and human.

    It shows strength, weakness and love in old age.

  • Concept and Direction:
    Jessica Kennedy, Megan Kennedy
    Choreography:
    Jessica Kennedy, Megan Kennedy in collaboration with the cast
    Performers:
    Finola Cronin, Luc Dunberry
    Set Design:
    Sabine Dargent
    Music:
    Denis Clohessy
    Lightning Design:
    Stephen Dodd
    Costume Design:
    Saileóg O'Halloran
    Producer:
    Ciara Lynch
    Text:
    Finola Cronin, Luc Dunberry, Mikel Murfi
    Voice Coach:
    Andrea Ainsworth
    Production management:
    Simon Bird
    Production Manager:
    Iain Synnott
    Stage Manager:
    Marella Boschi
    Lighting management:
    Jessica Fitzsimons Kane
    Photography:
    Fionn McCann, Luca Truffarelli

    Contractually arranged with STEPS.

  • Junk Ensemble is a multi-award winning Dublin-based dance theatre company founded by twin sisters Megan Kennedy and Jessica Kennedy. The company is committed to engaging diverse audiences through the creation and presentation of brave, imaginative and accessible work that sheds light on important human issues relevant to society today. Current Associate Artists at Project Arts Centre and previous Artists-in-Residence at The Tate, Junk Ensemble has built a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading voices in dance. Junk Ensemble frequently collaborates with artists from other disciplines to produce a rich mix of visual and performance styles that challenge the traditional audience/performer relationship. This approach has led to productions being created in non-traditional or found spaces as well as more conventional theatre spaces. The company often work directly with communities in the creation and performance of their work. Their work has toured to New York, Europe, UK & Ireland. 

  • Culture Ireland with initial support from Arts Council Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíona, Dublin Dance Festival, Shawbrook Dance, Dublin City Council, Dance Ireland

Finola Cronin (formerly of Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal) and Luc Dunberry (formerly of Sascha Waltz & Guests) celebrate the beauty of older bodies in ‘Dances Like a Bomb’. Copyright: Fionn McCann

'Dances Like a Bomb' is a hilarious and heartfelt dance theatre evening about ageing. Copyright: Stefano Scanferla

Copyright: Fionn McCann

Copyright: Ruben Vuaran

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