«YOU CANNOT CAN»
Dana Michel

Performance artist Dana Michel considers the ability to swim to be one of the ways in which we might embody self-trust and wonders why, despite many attempts at learning, she still cannot really feel at ease in the water. And what is it that holds back the majority of her family from swimming, despite hailing from an island that is surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea? How safe can you feel in the world if you cannot float in the liquid that makes up a large part of your body?

In order to explore these questions, Michel created the solo ‘YOU CANNOT CAN’ in a swimming pool. Surrounded by the audience, she wades inside global histories and socio-economic realities of swimming and safe access to water. She uses her kaleidoscopically-curious approach to focus on how we might shake off fears. Might this watery adventure be an entry point to ultimate liberation?

Accessibility information

• Access and seating: The performance takes place at the Altstetten indoor swimming pool (Dachslernstrasse 35, 8048 Zürich). The building is accessible via a ramp or nine steps. The area around the non-swimmers’ pool, where the performance takes place, is accessible via stairs and via a lift without any steps.

• The passageway between the seating area and the swimming pool is 170 cm wide on the long side of the pool and 122 cm wide on the short side.

• In addition to the area around the swimming pool, the performance can also be experienced from a step-free gallery with a handrail (height 95 cm). This is located on the same level as the entrance area. There are two wheelchair spaces, two beanbags and three chairs. You can also sit at the edge of the swimming pool and dip your feet in the water.

• Accessible toilets are available one level below the swimming pool via a lift.

• In the event of an evacuation, the audience from the area around the swimming pool cannot be evacuated via the lift, but only via a staircase with nine steps. The Gessnerallee team will be present at all performances and will carry out the evacuation together with the Hallenbad Altstetten team.

• Getting there and pick-up service: The stop ‘Farbhof’ is approximately 350 metres from the Altstetten indoor swimming pool and can be reached by tram and bus. Anyone wishing to be picked up from the Farbhof bus and tram stop to attend the event should contact barrierefreiheit@gessnerallee.ch by 17 September.

• Clothing: There is no need to change clothes, but the audience is kindly asked to take off their shoes. Socks can be kept on. If you enter the area around the swimming pool barefoot (without socks), it is required to wash your feet briefly on site. If you would like to wear flip-flops, please feel free to bring your own. If required for accessibility reasons, shoes can also be kept on.

• Duration: The performance lasts 60 minutes.

• Language: There is no spoken language.

• Content notes: The performer sometimes moves through the audience and is at times dressed only in a swimsuit. The work explores the fear of water and the inability to swim.

• Sensory stimuli: The temperature in the swimming pool is 30° Celsius and the humidity is 65%.The performance makes use of natural, incoming light and the lighting in the swimming pool. The swimming pool smells of chlorine. There is occasional intermittent banging, vocalisations, and other sound-making.

• For sold-out performances, we reserve a small number of accessible seats (wheelchair spaces and beanbags). We kindly ask that anyone requiring accessibility support contact kasse@gessnerallee.ch.