Fists to Flowers deconstructs and weaves together practices originating from contemporary dance, wrestling and boxing. It uses stage as an arena: a space which questions pain through a journey between extreme resistance and complete surrender. Like waves hitting a rocky shore, the four performers continuously collide, attach and detach, blurring between the personal and the collective. In this realm, the intense encounter of their bodies seems to be a search for intimacy and closeness, a space for confession which can be sensitive and playful. Throughout the performance highly physical, rhythmical sequences emerge, eventually leading to exhaustion and newfound vulnerability. This constant, unresolved movement of softening and hardening invites us to explore and reimagine the connection we have with our own body and with the other.
Duration
- 60 minutes
Language
- English spoken language
Light
- The lighting situation on stage is rather bright and the light is soft.
- During the last part of the performance, the room is completely dark for a few minutes.
Sound
- Loud and surprising sound effects and music are used.
Audience area
- The audience is seated on grandstands all around the stage.
- 2 beanbag seats bookable according to availability
- 2 wheelchair seats bookable according to availability
Early boarding
If, for artistic reasons, the door to the auditorium does not open until very shortly before the performance begins, there is the option of early boarding.
Tickets
- Reservations can be made via the ticket telephone at 030 283 52 66, Monday to Friday from 4pm-6pm
- Via the online ticket shop
- At the box office
You can also find more information about accessibility here.
Yotam Peled was born in Israel and has been practicing fine arts, athletics and Capoeira since childhood. At the age of 21 he began dancing and later pursued higher education in contemporary circus. In 2015 he relocated to Berlin and, since then, has been working as a freelance performer with several European choreographers, among them Maura Morales, Yann L’Hereux, Troels Primdahl, Jill Crovisier and Mitia Fedotenko. Alongside performing, he has been creating his own choreographic work which has toured festivals and venues worldwide. As a resident choreographer he worked in: ‘THINK BIG’ / TANZtheater International festival Hanover, TalentLAB#19 / Grand Theater Luxembourg under the mentorship of Hofesh Shechter, the Choreographic Center of Heidelberg, TanzLabor / ROXY Ulm, Skopje Dancer Theater, Tanzhaus Zürich, PimOff Milan, Altofest Naples and developed work for Theater Strahl Berlin and in Fabrik Potsdam as part of EXPLORE DANCE project. Yotam has been a guest teacher and collaborator in Fontys Academy of Arts, Folkwang University of Arts, Dock11, Munstrum Theater, Cie. Hors Surface, Cooperativa Maura Morales, Overhead Project, PRISMA festival, IWANSON Munich and numerous festivals and dance studios in Europe and Asia.
Yotam Peled & the Free Radicals is an ensemble established in September 2018, following the creation of Entropia, as part of ‘THINK BIG’ project at the State Opera of Hannover. It acts as a project-based company engaging different freelancers, focusing on contemporary interdisciplinary creation and addressing topics of gender, power structures and community rituals. The ensemble’s focus is on creating and touring in Europe and it operates both in conventional and alternative spaces, often engaging in workshops and site-responsive projects. Our creative process and output are centred around the body and the potential of movement to transform social codes. Aspects of our existence which are often considered dark, inappropriate or wild, receive space and treatment in our performances, both as a space for healing and critical reflection. The movement research and language of the ensemble is inspired by Yotam’s biography, originating from circus and martial arts — working with the extremities of the body and the impossible, as well as rave culture — a ritual of repetition and emotional intensity.
Concept, Choreography, Performance: Yotam Peled
Performance: Erin O’Reilly, Andrius Nekrasovas, Nicolas Knipping
Light design: Hanna Kritten Tangsoo
Documentation: Valentin Braun
Production Management: Sofia Fantuzzi
Communication, Distribution: Laia Monyota / TINA agency
Fists to Flowers is a production of Yotam Peled & the Free Radicals in co-production with LOFFT – DAS THEATER. Gefördert von der Stadt Leipzig, Kulturamt. The project is supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, DOCK11 and TheaterHaus Mitte Berlin. The research in 2022 was supported by Tanzhaus Zürich, Schloss Bröllin and tanz-kultur-dialog Rosenhof. The 33rd Tanztage Berlin are a production of Sophiensæle. Funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion and the Capital Cultural Fund (HKF). With the kind support of Tanzfabrik Berlin e. V., Theaterhaus Berlin Mitte. Media partners: Berlin Art Link, Missy, Siegessäule and taz.