Trajal Harrell / Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble: Monkey off My Back or the Cat’s Meow

Austrian Premiere

The 1776 Declaration of Independence is regarded as the political foundation for the United States of America. Trajal Harrell took a fresh look at it and was fascinated by the urgency of this call for freedom, which was at the same time a betrayal of England and the King: "suicidal", as Harrell says, but "of such elegance". In doing so, he does not forget the cruelty with which members of the First Nations and Black people were treated in the same document. Centred around this ambivalent evocation of freedom, the head choreographer of the Schauspielhaus Zurich not only brings together its dancers and actors, but also political rhetoric with his philosophy of layers (of fabric) covering the body: “Fashion is a way of thinking about clothing in relationship to space, society and politics.” In addition to his nothing less than virtuoso handling of more than 60 stunning models designed by himself, one is also amazed by Harrell's stage, who became famous with his sophisticated voguing catwalks: in a set influenced by Piet Mondrian and set to an absolutely contemporary musical score, he resurrects the spirit of modernism.

Photo: © Orpheas Emirzas