Milli Bitterli: Der Tausendfüßler (Was bleibt?) a livelong project

The feeling of having to get away from this place, to go further, to leave things behind, without getting stuck, and again to arrive somewhere sets the body into a never-ending dance. Arms and legs are travelling and gather, pile up what they encounter. And although there is no succession and no sequence, nevertheless in this unrest a conservation and saving takes place: not at one place but at all places, not on a journey, but in the adventure of leaving without coming back. And if you have already been under way so long swaying on the high sea then it may indeed happen that you no longer know whether your are still dancing or have long been dreaming.

Accompanied by Jack Hauser, Milli Bitterli has been travelling the world with the same abstract movement sequences for 13 years. In this period almost everything in her life has changed, but nevertheless it is the abstract movements that have remained and to which she holds firm. The claim is to be able to dance through life. Between the spontaneity that has been fixed on film, choreography danced live and talking about dreams and desires, a space opens up that expresses the desire for the limitless length of movement and emotional portrayal. Something starts, forms itself anew and is constantly under way, always searching.

Milli Bitterli founded the Artificial Horizon company in 2000. Since then there have been numerous collective, cooperative and choreographic projects with Christine de Smedt, Wendy Houstoun, Superamas, Christine Gaigg, Markus Schinwald, Robert Steijn, Jack Hauser, Lisa May Post, the Theater im Bahnhof and Jennifer Lacey. Milli Bitterli was artist in residence at T Junction Gegenwartstanz, with Dietheater Künstlerhaus Wien, in Danse in Kortrijk, and at the Tanzquartier Wien. From 2001 to 2003 she was the artistic curator for the training and workshop area at the Tanzquartier Wien. As a dancer she has worked together with Meg Stuart, Lloyd Newson, Nigel Charnock and many others. She graduated in classical dance from the Vienna State Opera and from the Vienna Conservatory. This was followed by travel through Europe and further training as a contemporary dancer.

(in German and English language.)