Austrian Choreographer Willi Dorner's Performance-Photo Exhibition "Living Room"

The Latvian New Theatre Institute invites Sarkandaugava residents to participate in the Riga2014 project Dance Goes to the City - Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner's performance-photo exhibition "Living Room".

In brief: 7 apartments are needed for the production (preferably each in a different building, but close to one another). Photographs will be taken there with dancers' participation - the dancers' bodies will integrate into the existing interior, creating new relationships between objects (see photos below). The photos will then be printed in large format and installed in the apartments. As a result, visitors will see a photo exhibition in the apartments, while on the stretches between apartments there will be live installations featuring around 50 dancers - dance students, street gymnasts, parkour athletes and breakdancers. (See practical details below.)

The "Living Room" project appeals to both young and old from the audience's perspective and suits all ages. For apartment owners it is an invitation to take part in a creative (and immediately international!) event, because we believe and hope that culture is not meant only for professionals.

If you want to participate in this project and know a neighbour or people in the area who would like to get involved, please contact Laura Stašāne, the project coordinator - +371 26523513 or [email protected]

Willi Dorner is an internationally recognised choreographer who has worked in Europe, the USA and Asia. In his performances he explores our relationship with the everyday environment - familiar streets, buildings, routes, surroundings, urban objects, objects, furniture - by placing dancers' bodies in completely "wrong" locations, thereby achieving an unexpected effect that surprises, amuses, moves and allows a completely different perspective on the familiar environment.

Practical schedule:

18, 19, 20 and 22 May - photo sessions in apartments

In each apartment the photo session lasts several hours and involves up to 9 people (6 dancers, choreographer Willi Dorner and photographer Lisa Rastl, plus our project coordinator).

The apartment owners may or may not be present - it's their choice. Importantly, furniture will not be moved and the apartment's layout will not be changed in any way, as everything happens very compactly (see examples in the attached photos).

1–11 September - installation of photographs in apartments

In each apartment this is again a matter of a few hours and we will agree on the specific day with the owners separately.

12 and 13 September - performances with audiences

Each day for 3 hours (e.g. from 18:00 to 21:00, time to be confirmed!) the apartments will be open for viewing the photo exhibition. Visitors will purchase tickets, so we will control the number entering at one time once we know the apartment size.