SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a..

The dance production SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. was created in 2004 by Monica Emilie Herstad and her company herStay in collaboration with The Torshov Theatre. SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a..was also performed during the Hamsun jubilee in 2009.  


Information

(Objekt ID 1085)
Object type Production
Premiere April 30, 2004
Produced by herStay
Coproducers The Torshov Theatre
Based on Victoria by Knut Hamsun
Audience All
Keywords Multidisciplinary, Dance, Performance, Butoh, Contemporary dance
Running period April 30, 2004  —  September 13, 2009
Duration 50 minutes
Website herStay

Requirements to venue

Blackout Yes
More

SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. opened in 2004 and was performed at the Soria Moria festival at The Torshov Theatre in the period from April 30 to June 5.

The production is based on a novel by Knut Hamsun: Victoria, written in 1898. SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. consisted of a version with the full ensemble and a solo version. In the ensemble version herStay used seven dancers, four of whom performed Victoria and three Johannes.

herStay presented with SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. a post-Butoh performance, a love story about the search for 'the impossible', inspired by, and an approach to nuances of the Victoria character, plus further interpretations of condition images in the novel by Hamsun from 1898.

It consists of rituals performed in a zone of war and love between man and woman, with subtle references to TV presentations from South Asia, with classic sumo wrestling and underwear fashion shows as central components.

The mood of the piece SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. represented monotony, through repetitive emphasis on the presentation in itself, in which different perspectives concerning impossible love were the theme and essence.

As such the production was a report of the current condition, documenting people's physical condition this spring of 2004, in regard to being in apathetic search for identity and love.

Video:
In the video work masculine and feminine stereotypes were discussed, conveyed through a consumption-oriented context, a hotel in South Asia in March 2004. In a perspective analysing trends, this TV program about sex, masculinity and femininity show how one is willing to get undressed in exchange for being stimulated by the body as an icon, as a substitute for closeness. The video work has been edited impulsively, in psychosocial response to the surroundings there and then.

Source:

herStay, herstay.net, 22.11.2011, http://herStay.net

Contributors (12)
Name Role
Monica Emilie Herstad – Script
Monica Emilie Herstad – Direction
Monica Emilie Herstad – Choreography
Hicham Bouddén – Composition
Monica Emilie Herstad – Video/Film
Johan Haugen – Lighting design
Johan Haugen – Lighting design
Thea Bay – Dancer
Marianne Haugli – Dancer
Monica Emilie Herstad – Dancer
Eli Villanger – Dancer
Knut Ove Arntzen – Consultant
Performance dates
September 13, 2009 Show
September 12, 2009 Show
September 11, 2009 Show
September 10, 2009 Show
May 2, 2004Torshovteatret - Hovedsalen Show
April 30, 2004Torshovteatret - Hovedsalen Worldwide premiere