Backslash Festival

«This resting, patience»
Ewa Dziarnowska

Three hours of dance as a form of radical devotion to the body, to tenderness and a future in limbo. Two performers are led through contradictory emotional states within an exquisite dramaturgy.


  • Fri 11/22 6:00 – 9:00 PM

    Südbühne

  • Sat 11/23 6:00 – 9:00 PM

    Südbühne

Dance is not staged here as an alienated spectacle, but rather as a form of socialising. Copyright: Spyros Rennt / image manipulation: Bodara GmbH

‘This resting, patience’ is simultaneously a ghostly archive of fallow sensuality, an installative kinetic fade-out and a somatic (strip) tease. Full of attraction, self-chosen objectification, closeness and the aesthetics of exposure. Together with her stage partner Leah Marojević, Dziarnowska skilfully combines historical conceptualism with the narcissism of today.

The performance, lasting over three hours, questions expectations of the passivity of installation and at the same time subverts the temporal and dramaturgical resolutions of performance. Here, dance is not staged as an alienated spectacle, but rather as a form of sociability - timeless and democratic. With a radical dedication to the body, ‘This resting, patience’ creates a future that remains eternally in limbo and constantly unfolds anew - completely tender, enchanting and attentive.

Access means

«This resting, patience» is a long durational performance lasting about three hours. The audience can leave the space and re-enter at any time.

The sound of the performance moves gradually between moments of complete silence and scenes with party volume (up to 100 dB). There are no harsh light changes (like strobe light), but there will be flickering fluorescent light in some scenes.

Seating options are wooden chairs with backrest as well as a limited number of beanbags. At the beginning of the performance, there are only enough chairs for about 2/3 of the audience. During the evening, more chairs will be added. It is possible to sit on the floor or change the seat at all times. People with access needs can reserve a seat in advance by writing to barrierefreiheit@gessnerallee.ch or by approaching the front-of-house staff. Repeatedly, the performers interact with the audience in a gentle way. This can involve verbally addressing an audience member as well as soft touch.

Copyright: Spyros Rennt

Copyright: Spyros Rennt

Copyright: Spyros Rennt

Copyright: Spyros Rennt

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