May Zarhy | Presencia
Think of a human touch you recently experienced.
How does it feel?
Which memories pop up while thinking of it? Presencia is a duet for the dancers Brit Rodemund (DE) and Dominic Santia (DE/US) dealing with touch and lack of human touch. Merging pantomime and abstract movement, the dancers invite the audience to their space of intimacy and feeling. The work is a synthesis between the dance, the sound – composed by electronic musician Daniella Ljungsberg and the lights – designed by Rotem Elroy. Through a crafted choreography the dancers explore the connection between memory, body experience and imagination, how these reside in their bodies and resonate with the audience.
Presencia is a continuation of a choreographic research made by Zarhy in 2021, which produced a duet performed by one person – Ariel Gelbart – called Ausencia. Ausencia was presented in Suzanne Dellal in Tel Aviv Dance Festival 2021, in Atelier Shemi in Kabri and at the Center for Contemporary Art Tel Aviv-Yafo.
Choreographer May Zarhy (1984) is an independent artist, whose work ranges between stage pieces, site-specific and participatory works. In her work, she is drawn to the intersection of choreography, performance, and sound art.
I Since 2021, Zarhy directs the post-graduate choreography program in Kelim center. She works as a dramaturg and rehearsal director for fellow artists, and teaches at places such as: pro-mornings at Suzanne Dellal Center, Moving Community at Yasmeen Godder’s company, The School of Visual Theater Jerusalem and more. Zarhy graduated from the Rotterdam Dance Academy in the Netherlands in 2006. During her studies, she also worked as William Forsythe’s assistant at the Forsythe Company (2005). In 2007, she completed Xavier Le Roy and Mathilde Monnier’s ex.e.r.ce post-graduate program, in Montpellier, France. Later, Zarhy co-founded with Fabrice Mazliah and Ioannis Mandafounis the collaborative trio Mamaza (2009 – 2014), with whom she created and performed around the world. The trio members were selected as associate artists at deSingel, Antwerp (2011-2012), and resident artists at Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt (2012-2014).
Choreography: May Zarhy
Created with and performed by: Brit Rodemund, Dominic Santia
Music: Daniella Ljungsberg
Rehearsal director: Moran Muller
Outside eye: Ariel Gelbart
Light: Rotem Elroy
Costumes: Vivi Ben Ezra
Research assistant: Nitsan Margaliot
Pantomime coaching: Katja Tannert
Consultation costumes: Claudia Hill
Technical assistant: Felix Lindner
Production: Dino Spiri, Alina Zhutovsky
Jubal Battisti
Supported by:
Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media within the program NEUSTART KULTUR
Mifal Hapais
Rabinovich Foundation for the Arts, Tel Aviv
Katamon
Thanks to: Adi Nachman, Tal Kantor.
