How does physical appearance affect our conception of a character? Does it have an influence on how we expect such a character to act? Can we detach a performer we see on stage from the gender, age or ethnicity they present? Taking inspiration from the iconic ballet Giselle, Maria Combi, Anna Heiniman and Gregor Vogel are basing their research on its characters, storyline and most importantly: on its physical translation. During their two-week residency at Tanzhaus Zürich, they will question if and how it is possible to make this still relevant and aligned with values of the present age: can revolution come from the core of old beliefs? Can change happen within the physical traditions of steps, gestures and postures? Or does everything need to fall in order to be rebuilt?

The work-in-progress Sharing will be followed by a brief audience discussion with the artists, who say the following about themselves: "While we have different ages and face different challenges in life, we still found each other sharing the same core questions as artists navigating late-stage capitalism. In our research, we question the representation of the female body, investigating how gender has been portrayed in the dance industry and more generally in society throughout the times as well as today."