Unusual Symptoms / Theater Bremen / Adrien Hód (Germany) – HARMONIA

In Harmonia, Unusual Symptoms and Adrienn Hód – Hodworks create a space in which they invite us to explore the human body and its meaning in dance and society. In an abstract structure they question hierarchies of classical dance and play with forms and narratives of contemporary dance that is believed to be progressive. 

Asking for the undisturbed attention of the audience, an ensemble of dancers with and without disabilities attempts to rearrange our ideas about the body and the systems built around it. In between shared explorations of the diversity of the human physique and the self-ironic reflection on common dance forms, they aim to re-adjust our gaze.

Unusual Symptoms have been company-in-residence at Theater Bremen since 2012. Originally founded by the French-Algerian choreographer Samir Akika, the company and dance division of Theater Bremen have been co-directed by Alexandra Morales and Gregor Runge since 2018.

International coproductions and work with changing guest choreographers and in interdisciplinary constellations characterize their new orientation.

Adrienn Hód is an internationally working Hungarian choreographer, specializing in contemporary dance and high-quality experimental movement. Her work is often research-based and focused on the human physique in motion, stripped of taboos and prejudices.

During studio work she creates exhilarating and liberating situations that offer performers space, trust and agency to open up their physicality, sensations, emotions and layers of identity. Hód’s method is based on guided improvisation in the rehearsal room that appears in a structured form on stage. The finished pieces are often at the intersection of contemporary dance, theatre and performance.

With their first collaboration Coexist, created in 2019, Unusual Symptoms – the dance company-in-residence at Theater Bremen – and Adrienn Hód were invited to Tanzplattform Deutschland, one of the most important showcases for contemporary dance in Germany. Harmonia is their second creation together.

Photo by Joerg Landsberg.