Phototropism and Lampenfieber 2026

Beschreibung

For the 2026 Das Margareten summer program, Elizabeth Ward will offer a version of the Phototropism and Lampenfieber workshops that she has previously presented at ImPulsTanz (2021, 2022). Elements of this research grew into her work Hedera Helix (presented by Tanzquartier Wien 2022 and ImPulsTanz 2023). In Biology phototropism is the growth of a plant both toward and away from light. The growth away from light takes place in the roots. While not visible, the under the surface growth is an essential partner to the stability of the organism. Lampenfieber, the German word for Stage fright, poetically describes the nervous energy brought on by stepping into the lights of the stage. Mostly Lampenfieber is navigated individually. Some individuals transform the rush of adrenaline into something out of this world. Others are crushed by it, while many of us have up and down moments with the delight and terror of being in front of others. Conjuring a bit of magical thinking we will take this journey collectively, addressing performance anxieties by exercising the plant medicine often portrayed in ballet’s romantic narratives. Lilacs and Roses are the most famous but there are more to grow and tend to. Very practically the workshop will involve discussions of personal experience of stage fright and the development of dances (solos, duets, group) that can be as close or as far way from the original Lilac and Rose dances (Lilac fairy, Rose Adagio, La Spectre de la Rose) as participants wish. The workshop will be choreographic in nature but also draw on improvisational and somatic practices coming from A.M., B.M.C., Skinner Releasing technique. We will work on both what’s visible (the dances) and what kind of unseen practices we can grow to support the dancing. Expect discussions around performance presence and willingness to work on how shifts in perception can influence our performativity. On the final day of the workshop we will present the created dances to each other and, if desired, to invited guests. Hedera helix trailer https://vimeo.com/816873120 Hedera helix teaser https://vimeo.com/816876715?fl=pl&fe=sh