Matkot - Berlin/2009

Here is some info on the project I am currently working on here in Berlin. It is a physical/theatrical performance by choreographer Nir De Volff. If you are around the area, dont miss it...

NIR DE VOLFF / TOTAL BRUTAL

MATKOT

Premiere: November 28th 2009, 8.30pm

Further Performances: November 29th/30th and December, 4th/5th/6th 2009, 8.30pm

Dock 11, Kastanienallee 79, 10435 Berlin

Tickets at ticket@dock11-berlin.de or 030 448 12 22

Are you longing for the beach of your dreams? Enjoying the sun on your body, the sound of the waves going deeper and deeper into your brain, connecting with harmony and nature? Pull yourself together. Come to us, come to the MATKOT-beach. Nir De Volff / TOTAL BRUTAL will guarantee you crying babies, barking dogs and hundreds of beachball players and nacked bodies, coming closer and closer. We provide a daily supply of fresh garbage and the air is filled with the sweet sound of tractors building another luxury hotel just in walking distance.

MATKOT, the Hebrew word for beach ball, explores the social complexity of a day at the beach and our inconsistent behavior as visitors and users of nature. The new dance piece by Nir De Volff / TOTAL BRUTAL is about the need to relax, the moment when a dream falls apart and the process of collecting bits and pieces struggling to construct a new image.

Idea & Concept: Nir De Volff - A collaboration by Johanna Chemnitz, Hyoung-Min Kim and Nir De Volff - Guest: Ido Portal - Artistic Counselling: Tatiana Saphir - Music: jayrope - Stage: Judith Philipp - Costumes: Pieter Bax - Lights: Benjamin Schälike - Graphic Design: Dorit Bialer - Photos: Bernhard Musil - Production & PR: ehrliche arbeit – freelance office for culture - Choreographic Assistant: Zuhal Toptas - Stage Assistant: Max Johns - Costume Assistant: Veronika Weinhold

Funded by the City of Berlin. Supported by and produced at DOCK 11. Thanks to Hakvutza Jaffo, Tel Aviv Dance Studios.

www.totalbrutal.net

I am currently pulling off 8-12 hours of physical activity a day, (trying to squeeze out my own training besides working on the project) so sorry for the lack of activity on the blog. I know from the emails I recieved many of you are interested to find out some more details about my experiences here in Berlin, and soon I will share some insights on the amazing experience of creating Matkot. Stay tuned, to be continued...

Ido.

Berlin - Nov, 09

Landed in Berlin.
I wont pretend to figure this place out in one day. Obviously, this place carries a lot of baggage behind it, you can feel it walking the streets here.
Berlin Automn... Let me tell you, there is nothing 'automny' about it for me... This is winter and winter with a bite. Grey, tinkeling rain all the time and muddy shoes that go along with brown stained 'boca de calca'. I usualy dont like this kind of weather, but this place is hypnotic. The harsh,strict german languege, the perfectly designed faces, the shicky fashion and art and the old factories from the war. I have to know more. Much more.

After 8 hours in the studio, meeting the other guys and gals (we are 5) working the project, I was taken to my apartment by the production manager. What a nice surprise...
A beatifull two bedroom aparment right in the center, coozy and warm, with fast internet access and a fully equipped kitchen. I am set. Spending here the next 40 days will be a pleasure.

I intend to explore the city, take interesting workshops and classes and see lots of shows. (from any kind!)
My training will be squeezed into the daily 8 hours movement research we are doing, and another 1-3 hours session in the end of the day. (9-11 hours of movement with 2 30 min breaks in the middle?? I guess so..)

Tomorrow early, we start again, I'll take some pictures of our amazing, completely new studio and maybe some movement clips. Stay tuned and communicate with me.

BTW, my new websites - www.idoportal.com and www.floreioart.com are comming closer and closer to some finish line.. You can already see the new design and features, but most of them are not functional yet. My good friend and amazing graphic designer Oren Vermus is responsible for the simple, clean and beautifull design, my other good childhood friend Timor (Troi Designs) is responsible for the programming. Thanks, guys, no way I could have done it without your endless help.

Ido.