TANZ: Kiesecker | Hoess "THE TRUTH" (D)

In the organizer's words:

TANZ Karlsruhe and ZKM present an innovative combination of live performance and video documentation.

THE TRUTH is the first mockumentary dance piece by the choreographic duo KIESECKER | HOESS. Since 2019, Sarah Kiesecker and Dominik Hoess have been working on an equal, democratic way of working - their choreographic processes are characterized by intensive exchange, physical precision and performative curiosity. Together they develop a movement language that focuses on precision and synchronicity. Partnering and acrobatic elements are just as much a part of their joint work as unison and performative elements.

THE TRUTH explores the interfaces between choreography, documentation and authenticity. The audience experiences choreographic sequences, but also cinematic scenes projected onto the back wall, providing insights into the creation process.

The inspiration for the intended character of the piece are successful mockumentary series such as "The Office" or "The Discounters". The settings of these series are precarious and unimaginative. Tension is created by social upheavals that intensify from episode to episode. The main characters' highly distorted view of themselves is ironically displayed. In interviews, they boast about skills that they obviously do not fulfill at all in other scenes. Central themes are the Dunning-Kruger effect (blatant overestimation of oneself) vs. impostor syndrome (self-doubt) - both phenomena that are conspicuously evident in dance. Choreographic work as a highly complex (professional, technical, artistic and social) field places high demands on the resilience and self-efficacy of those involved. KH pursue the assumption that revealing the creative process to the audience reveals an exciting mixture of situations.

The performers ask themselves the question of "the truth" - artistically, personally, socially, always with a dose of self-irony. Intimate rehearsal processes become an elementary part of the end product as a condensed field of social interaction. They interweave with fictional narratives. This raises the question: what is staged, what is real? Based on the lurid title, one might suspect a scandal that brings an alternative truth to light.

The presence of an "outside eye" plays a major role - the camera during rehearsals, the audience during the performance. The camera documents, influences, restricts, becomes an actor itself. In the process, a sometimes judgmental presence develops. The gap between what happens in rehearsals and the corresponding statements by the choreographers are questioned by this hidden entity. The Outside Eye attempts to uncover the truth by asking uncomfortable questions in interview scenes.

The production reflects the interpenetration of life and art. Irony and seriousness stand side by side on an equal footing. The aim is not mere stage aesthetics, but a critical reflection on roles, expectations and conflicts within artistic teams.

Strong plays from Baden-Württemberg

Price information:

Tickets from 27,00 €