CHRIS LEUENBERGER PRODUCTIONS

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TOUCH ISOLATION (2021) MARCEL SCHWALD & CHRIS LEUENBERGER

Even before the Corona crisis, choreographer Chris Leuenberger and director Marcel Schwald were interested in bodies that must not come into contact with others. After drawing on stories from India for their examination of femininity („Ef_femininity“, 2018), in their new work „Touch Isolation“ Leuenberger/Schwald reflect on their own masculinity while using role models from the USA, where the term Touch Isolation originated. It refers to a deep-seated fear of physical contact between men, said to particularly affect those who are socialized in the United States and other English-speaking countries, where from an early age boys are discouraged from exchanging gentle platonic touch with other boys. With three US-American dancers, Schwald/Leuenberger make trained physicalities and the stories behind them the dance-documentary centre of their work.

artistic direction Marcel Schwald, Chris Leuenberger dance, choreography, performance André Chapatte, Andy Santana, Brandon Woods, Chris Leuenberger music, performance Thomas Jeker costume, scenography Salome Egger dramaturgy Merel Heering light design, technique Thomas Kohler outside eye Jonas Gillmann, Matthew Rogers production Maxine Devaud, Sabine Jud

A coproduction in the frame of the Programmers’ Fund of Reso – Dance Network Switzerland. Supported by Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council. In coproduction with Dampfzentrale Bern | Kaserne Basel | Hellerau – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste, with the support of Tanzhaus Zürich, funded by Fachausschuss Tanz & Theater BS/BL | Kultur Stadt Bern | SWISSLOS/Kultur Kanton Bern | Pro Helvetia | Migros-Kulturprozent | Burgergemeinde Bern | Ernst Göhner Stiftung | Landis & Gyr Stiftung | Kulturfonds der Société Suisse des Auteurs SSA | Schweizerische Interpretenstiftung SIS.