Body Archives in Resonance
The collective dance me to the end, Switzerland's first professional ensemble over 60, will dedicate 2026 to exploring its body archive(s). The project focuses on the connection between lived knowledge, spatial memory, and documentary traces. To achieve this, the collective relates its own dance history to the history of the Gessnerallee Theatre.
At the Theaterhaus Gessnerallee, the ensemble encounters a venue with a specific history of dance and theatre. The project examines phases of new beginnings, transition, and the professionalisation of the house, as well as their lasting impact within the spaces. In doing so, it connects the history of the place with the biographical and artistic experiences of those involved.
Beyond this specific reference, KörperArchiv(e)in Resonanz opens up further perspectives on the history of the performing arts in Switzerland. It also examines questions of fragility, age, collective formation, and knowledge, as well as architectural, historical, and social aspects.
The project is being developed in collaboration with dance and theatre scholars Julia Wehren and Alexandra Portmann from SAPA and the University of Bern. It will conclude with a public event at Theaterhaus Gessnerallee on September 27, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM, featuring a memorial space, documentation, an installation, a panel discussion, and a performance.
