BLOT — Body Line of Thought
PERFORMANCE, 50 MIN, RO/CA/PT
We are strong and fragile, interconnected systems of sweat, muscle and microbiome. In BLOT, our bodies are redefined through an exploration of our coexistence with microbiological beings.
This choreographed performance is inspired by our own anatomy, using the language of the body to create states of repetition, fluidity, compassion, and empathy.
Stripped of the social meanings determined by language, movement becomes a transitory presence and an intersubjective experience that opens the way to new understandings. Images of bacteria cultivated from the dancer’s bodies and dunes of salt reveal the invisible systems that connect us to our biome.
BLOT asks us to consider how to live within a world of fractured identities, distance from nature and the ongoing climate crisis. The result is a reminder of our interconnectedness despite our differences in both identity and microbiology.
BLOT is a collaboration between dance artists Simona Deaconescu and Vanessa Goodman which started in 2020, premiering in late 2022.
The project’s research began in a residency at Cultivamos Cultura in Sao Luis, Portugal, following the selection of the two choreographers as resident artists in the Biofriction, a European BioArt project.
Secluded in the natural reservation, the two choreographers learned to grow cultures of their own bacteria and observe them through a microscope. The next step was to analyse how these cultures developed over time.
The main interest was to monitor whether Deaconescu’s and Goodman’s bacteria would change due to the contamination process.
TEAM
Concept and choreography SIMONA DEACONESCU, VANESSA GOODMAN
Performers SIMONA DABIJA, MARIA LUIZA DIMULESCU
Dramaturgical support OLIVIA NITIS, MARTA DE MENEZES
Music MONOCUBE
Stage design CIPRIAN CIUCLEA
Light Design MARIUS COSTACHE
Video CARMEN TOFENI
Graphic design PRETTY/UGLY
Production LAURA TROCAN, ANDREEA ANDREI
PRODUCERS
Tangaj Collective, Action at a Distance, The National Centre for Dance in Bucharest
PARTNERS
plastic orchid factory, Left of Main, Switch Lab
FUNDING
The Administration of the National Cultural Fund, The Canda Council for the Arts, Biofriction
RESIDENCY SUPPORT
Cultivamos Cultura, plastic orchid factory
DATES
Oct 2022, The National Centre for Dance in Bucharest, RO
Feb 2023, The National Centre for Dance in Bucharest, RO
Apr 2023, Tranzit House, Cluj-Napoca, RO
May 2023, The National Centre for Dance in Bucharest, RO
May 2023, Antistatic Festival for Dance and Performance, Toplocentrala, Sofia, BG
Jun 2023, DANCE TM Romanian Dance Showcase, Corneliu Miklosi Museum, Timisoara, RO
Aug 2023, FIDCDMX Festival, Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris, Mexico City, MX
Sep 2023, HERE:23 International Performing Arts Festival, Vitlycke — CPA, Tanumshede, SE
Nov 2023, Iridescent Festival, Apollo 111, Bucharest, RO
Dec 2023, Polish Dance Theatre, Poznan, PL
Jan 2024, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Left of Main, Vancouver, CA
May 2024, The National Centre for Dance in Bucharest, RO
June 2024, Flow International Festival, Sfantu Gheorghe, RO
Aug 2024, Tanzmesse Internationale NRW, Dusseldorf, DE
BLOT, acronym of Body Line Of Thought, is undoubtedly the most emblematic performance of the 2023 edition of Antistatic. The almost hypnotic dance of the performers, whose movements are at times fragmented, at times very fluid, makes it easy to see in detail how their muscles contract and release, how their breathing expands their diaphragms, or how the impulses flow through their limbs and spines. In this case nudity is simply taken as a scientific necessity, as the measurement tools the dancers wear highlight. I see BLOT as an opportunity to be guided by two performative bodies through a personal line of thoughts (as the title suggests), triggered by explanations about biology, which are therefore connected with ourselves.
It stood out as a captivating exploration of the complex nature of human identity. At first glance, the performance appears to revolve around the human body and its connection with biology, a perception reinforced by the nudity of the two female performers. As the performance unfolded, however, it became clear that BLOT went deeper, revealing the intricacies of each individual's unique microbial footprint and the symbiotic relationship we share with bacteria. By blending elements of lecture, choreographic research, and installation that incorporate salt, bacteria video projection, the performance delves into the themes of the human experience, exploring its functionality and challenging conventional notions of identity.
The perfect choreographic and performance work creates a complete and convincing stage world. On the sterile white stage with a white backdrop, a "body line of thought" is projected, exhibiting a state of consciousness at a specific moment in time. The setting is laboratory-like, creating a sense of a surreal painting that visualizes processes within subjective consciousness. In this setting, the conscious bodies of the two dancing girls, Simona Dabija and Maria Luiza Dimulescu, are situated. These bodies are devoid of eroticism and somewhat "disembodied," present solely to illustrate a "line of thought." The choreography is supported by set design and music, which with measured precision make the thought tangible and visually impactful.