Anne-Mareike Hess;
Credit: Bohumil Kostohryz
Luxembourg dancer and choreographer Anne-Mareike Hess recently took stock of her experience last year as the first associate artist of Neumünster Abbey (neimënster) and presented her upcoming creations.
After the uncertainties linked to the global health crisis which has severely affected the cultural sector, Anne-Mareike Hess has returned to neimënster for a research residency and will present two 2021 creations: her new solo piece "Dreamer" and the project "Through the Wire".
Since 2020, Anne-Mareike Hess has been the first associate artist of neimënster. During her stays on the Abbey site, she can count on administrative, technical and communication support from the neimënster teams to devote herself fully to the creative process. For Anne-Mareike Hess, this means having a foothold in Luxembourg, a place where she can do research, develop projects and present the progress of her work to the public.
Through the Wire
"Through the Wire" is the intimate encounter between Anne-Mareike Hess and a member of the audience during a one-on-one telephone interview, a project in which voices meet in the ether. Time and space are suspended and the artist will slowly accompany her interlocutor in a fantastic world of dance with the only force of the mind and the imagination: what kind of dances, movements, body and spaces can we create together in the black boxes of our mind?
Each Through the Wire session consists of a one-on-one telephone conversation between Anne-Mareike Hess and an audience member. Each session lasts approximately 60 minutes. It will begin with a short introduction to the location (approx. five minutes), followed by the main conversation (approx. 45 minutes) and a few minutes to digest the experience afterwards (approx. ten minutes). The languages spoken are English, German, Luxembourgish and French.
Sessions are scheduled for Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March 2021 at 14:00 and at 16:00, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 March at 18:30 and at 20:00 and Thursday 1 April at 18:30 and at 20:00; these will all take place in the Vaulted Rooms at neimënster. Sessions are open to all and each costs €9. Registration is required via tel.: 262052-444 or via email: billetterie@neimenster.lu.
Dreamer
"Dreamer" is the second piece in an unofficial trilogy initiated by "Warrior", in which the artist questions the portrayal of masculinity. This new solo piece sees Anne-Mareike Hess address the stereotypes associated with women. The choreographer developed Dreamer in residence at neimënster. The piece was supposed to be presented on stage in early-December 2020, but had to be postponed to a later date due to COVID-19-related restrictions.
Dreamer will premiere on Friday 17 December 2021 at 20:00, in Salle Robert Krieps at neimënster. Other performances are scheduled for Saturday 18 December at 20:00 and Sunday 19 December at 17:00 (Salle Robert Krieps). The show is open to all audiences. Tickets cost €22, €9 (reduced) or €1.50 with a Kulturpass). Registration is required via tel.: 262052-444 or via email: billetterie@neimenster.lu.
Research Residency
In "Choreographing Identities", which is part of her research residency at neimënster, Anne-Mareike Hess investigates how the practice of very specific movements affects and shapes a person's body and identity. How are these movements used to create and express an identity? Do they reflect membership in a particular group?
Documentary
In addition, the creation of Dreamer is the subject of a documentary co-directed by videographer Bohumil Kostohryz and dance critic Marie-Laure Rolland. The project started in February 2020 at neimënster. "Anne-Mareike Hess - Le corps en état d’urgence" (the body in a state of emergency) follows the artist step-by-step in her creative process, from the research phase to the premiere, set to take place in Salle Robert Krieps. The documentary is about bringing to light the particular strength of his choreographic approach and what is playing out with the spectator at the time of the performance.
