Duration: 24:29
Choreography and Concept: Rachel Erdos
An intimate duet in which the dancers are trapped in a square of 2.5 x 2.5 meters. Coloured fluorescent lights demarcate their territory and they inhabit it. The audience sit close to the performers on all 4 sides of the square.
In today’s society space, or the lack of it, is an issue. Wars are fought over small pieces of land and borders are constantly changing and defining who we are. We live in overpopulated cities where the price to rent a tiny apartment is huge. The work was created in reaction to the current political situations and living conditions in many places in the world. As the cost of living grows we are forced to inhabit smaller and smaller spaces.
This work questions whether the walls make us prisoners in our own castle or protect us by keeping others out. Are we trapped or are we free? Free in our minds, our homes, our lives, our countries?
Creative performers: Ori Lenkinski, Tomer Giat
Set Design and Construction: Alon Birger
Original Music and Editing: Yoav Atzmon
Music: The Boo Radleys, Echo Lake, The Caretaker
Artistic advisor: Oded Graf
Producer: Tali Konigsberg
International Communications: Katherina Vasiliadis
Commissioned by MASH, Machol Shalem Dance House, Jerusalem, Israel
Rachel Erdos’s biography:
Rachel Erdos is an award-winning, independent, British-Israeli choreographer. She is from Newcastle Upon Tyne, and has lived and worked in Tel Aviv since 2002. Rachel received her MA from The Laban Centre London, specializing in choreography.
Rachel is recipient of many awards and prizes including: 2008 First Prize in the AICC International Choreography Competition in Aarhus, Denmark; 2009 City Dance Ensemble’s commissioning project, Washington DC; 2012 Artist of the Year in the Field of Dance by The Ministry of Absorption, Israel; and 2014 NorthWest Dance Project’s Pretty Creative Commission prize, Portland USA. In 2015 Rachel was awarded the prize for Independent Choreographer of the Year by the Ministry of Culture, Israel.
She has been commissioned by Company E and American University, Washington D.C, USA; NorthWest Dance Project, Oregon, USA, Panta Rei Danseteater, Mancopy Dance Company, Denmark; Moving Into Dance Mophatong Company, Johannesburg, South Africa; NorthWest Dance Project, Oregon, USA; as well as Curtain Up Festival, Kolben Dance, , Ido Tadmor, Nehara Dance Company and Machol Shalem Dance House, Israel.
Her work has been seen around the world including Belarus, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the UK, and the USA, at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. and the Royal Opera House in London.
In 2017 Rachel choreographed the video for the song ‘did you really say no’
composed and directed by Oren Lavie and starring Vanessa Paradis.
In addition to creating her own works and touring existing work, Rachel works as an artistic advisor and dramaturgue for other choreographers including Yossi Berg and Oded Graf Dance. Theatre, Ido Gidron and Panta Rei Danseteater. Rachel was the curator of dance for the Menashe Forest Music Festival, Israel in 2016 and 2017 and in 2020 is the artistic director of Machol Shalem’s dance week.
Rachel also teaches extensively to both professionals and not professionals and in 2018 will be visiting artist/lecturer in Brown University, U.S.A.
“Rachel Erdos is calling attention to herself and her works through their
diversity and the skill behind them.” -Ora Brafman, Dance Critic.