"Harmida", by Kale Dance Company

“Eight bodies on stage explore their physicality within the contemporary language of the choreographer. Starting from a narrative research on the present and the human scourge of the contemporary society, anchoring itself in small symbolic elements. Harmida developed in an abstraction creation about flight and arrival, and the hope of a new beginning.” (Harmida synopsis, 2017)

Inspired by the actual “refugee crisis” that has been attacking Europe countries for the last year, and by a mother who lost their children during the war and that helped the ones needing support in that moment of terror, KALE Dance Company presented, on the 12nd of January of 2017, “Harmida”, the contemporary dance piece directed by the dutch dancer and choreographer Elizabeth Lambeck.

Despite focusing on this current horrifying situation, this creation doesn´t emphasize what the refugees feel or go through (because that sensation of them is unknow to us). It does focus on those who are humble enough to help the ones that have been living such life struggles in the last years due to the wars.

The dancers move as they were facing a scenario of destruction and fear, their movement was characterized by falls and the sensation of disorientation in the body. However, they could also show in their bodies the idea of helping the other, by using lifts and dangerous approaches in movement between each other so to show to the audience the trust a courage between dancers that was happening on stage.

A complex light work wasn´t relevant for the piece, a simple focus was enough to show a theme that transmits such an insecure and exhausting scenario.

When it comes to the costumes, black or grey training pants and a beige t-shirt were worn by the interpreters, which gave them the look of exhaustion and suffering that they wanted to transmit. Besides, it gave the movement much more of a fluid and wide sensation.

The music was, for me, the weakest part of the piece since the transitions from one song to another were not that well worked. Every different song had a different choreographic phrase/moment related, which made the piece look rather predictable. However, they were well chosen because I consider that they relate to the theme presented on stage.

“Harmida” is a very stimulating piece which doesn´t let the audience take their eyes from the chaotic environment they are facing on stage. It´s an eye opening on how the human being can be so useful towards human being self-destruction. The dancers refer to a little girl who saved a sea star: “The star can be indifferent to the world but, to the star, the world means everything”. Cooperation between music, light, costumes, interpreters and movement present then a piece based on helping the ones who are I need of protection and looking at them has people who deserve the world.

Ana Meireles

DM1