English
We live in a society and an era in which physical contact between two people has become more infrequent. Locked in our bubbles of personal space, we only give access to the people with whom we are most intimate, which makes it harder for us to understand and master the strong feelings produced by touch. From the healing power of a helping hand resting on our shoulder to the sparks produced by a casual brush of the palm of the hand with someone who attracts us, touch is power.
This kind of rigidity and fear which prevents physical contact even extends to many actors, dancers and artists, who in preventing contact forego a powerful tool of communication between them and the public. Trying to avoid this, a group of drama teachers, artists and researchers has established the first festival dedicated to the performance genre “contact improvisation”, in the always artistically vibrant city of Berlin. This event, organized for the first time in May 2010 has been dubbed “Touch and Play Festival” will be an annual event. It is not restricted to actors and performers and is open to anyone who wants to explore the theatrical possibilities and possible artistic expression that can be born out of the physical contact between people. Touch is a phenomenon, a chemical process, and a physical sensation, a journey from the initial fears and misgivings to the sensuality that comes naturally when hormones rage and we are open to our senses.
There will be five days of workshops, classes, practical exercises and a closing party (the “Touch & Play Party”) that promises make this an unforgettable event … The festival will be run by more than sixteen teachers and artists, experts in various areas, who will offer their expertise to create a consensual learning environment in which attendees feel comfortable and safe. There will be workshops with names such as “Tantric Contact “, “Rituals of Privacy” and “Authentic Eros,” as well as seminars which pay attention to the importance of flexibility (“Playing with yoga”), the psychological aspects of touch (“Journey Within”), and even power games (“Art Submission” or “processing of pain”).
The festival is held in the dance studio and theatre called Schwelle7 Berlin, a complex which features more than five hundred square feet and has housed a variety of festivals, workshops, meetings and parties, with one common goal: promoting the creative spirit of absolute freedom. So if you want to learn more about the emotions that surface with friction, a touch, slap or hug, it’s easy: just rent apartments in Berlin, contact artists from Touch & Play and listen to the name of the festival, touch and play…
