TimeMap#3 - three people on the edge of time

Recoil performance group has made a performance that combines dance and digital media. The point of departure is in three characters that hold their time responsible for the ethical and moral collapse.

”We wanted to challenge the idea about the Nordic countries as a tolerant and open culture, an insight that our generation has grown up with. We wanted to set the idea of democracy into spotlight”, explains Tina Targaard, the coreographer from Recoil performance group.

TimeMap#3 is a collaboration between the coreographer Tina Tarpgaard (DK), the participating dancers Anna Pehrson (SE), Laura Lohi (FI), Kasper Ravnhøj (DK) and the media artist Ole Kristensen (DK). The group has together developed the concept for the performance.

The storyboard is inspired by true stories about three socially stigmatized characters from three different times. Their stories are portraitted physically, dramatically and visually through dance, digital technology and video.

”The project is much about empowerment and about giving a voice. The laws and rules, also what happens in the court room, is created by humans and therefore can be changed by humans. It is our responsibility. We wanted to show a human perspective to the system”, Tina Tarpgaard explains.

”What was so great about the project is that the dancers also took so much possession of the project. It was very much the political edge in the project that became our mutual goal.”

The public was also made a part of the performance as they were filmed under the show. The material was edited and manipulated and resulted in a video where the public sees itself in the same room with the dancers.

”It was about seeing your self in “the other”. Empathy, plain and simple. An encouragement served with humor, beauty and physical raw strength.”, says Tina Tarpgaard.

TimeMap#3 had alltogether 14 performances at Dansescenen in Copenhagen in April 2009. The group is currently planning to take the performance on a Nordic tour.

Read more about TimeMap#3 at www.recoil-performance.org.

TimeMap#3 has received funding through the Art and Culture Programme’s Module for Production-based Activities and Communication.