Lighting and sound design for 3 tactical dance pieces by SHADEseasons.

Part 1. From the depth of space.
‘From the depth of space’ was a funny, fast-paced exploration of the synergy between football, dance and conceptual art, conceived by Gregor Knüppel and Silke Wiegand and developed and performed by Wiegand, Christina Gomez, Vivianne Jonsson-Valenzia and Letizia Monea. They all wore the mix of tracksuit tops and shorts that you can find on any playing fields (if you can still find a playing field!) and just to emphasise the image, some outer layers were removed and laid down as ‘goalposts’.

The rituals of a football match were played out in repetitive, fast movement, slow motion and sometimes still tableau: every football icon was present, from tossing the coin and kick-off, to the corner and even the not-so-subtle elbow in the face made a few appearances, just like any football match really! In the midst of the action, two dancers took time out for a funny little dialogue about the rules, concluding that the object of the game was to put the ball in that little white box!

Unlike its predecessors, this work felt complete and its creators knew how to end on a high note, earning it by far the loudest – and well deserved – audience response, sending us all out to the rousing sound of ‘Three Lions on your shirt, Jules Rimet’s still calling…..’ etc. Very appropriate in this year of the world cup – someone should commission it for the cultural programme at Germany 2006!

(Reviewed by Graham Watts)

Premiered at the Place, London 8.2.2006

With and from Cristina M. Gomez, Gregor Knüppel, Letizia Monea, Vivianne Jonsson-Valenzia and Silke Wiegand.

Part 2. Cautious Prelude for Calcio
Premiered at Gallus Theater, Frankfurt 7.12.2006

With and from Angela Blumberg, Isabelle Drexler, Cristina M. Gomez, Gregor Knüppel, Izaskun Lapaza Rodriguez, Tobias Schmitt und Silke Wiegand.

Part 3. From the depth of Space – the finals
Premiered at Masdanza, Gran Canaria 22.10.2008

With and from Cristina M. Gomez, Gregor Knüppel, Heike Kuhlmann, Amaya Wang and Silke Wiegand.

Photos Gregor Knüppel