Performance.
2:30
This performance is a co-creation between movement and sculpture. It comprises a solo performance which explores materiality and sensorially within the choreographic process to research social structures of gender in the context of the recent global abuse scandals in women’s gymnasts.
This work-in-progress is the result of a collaborative residency at Morley College Chelsea Centre for creative Industries between choreographer Klaudia Wittmann and sculptor Lara Ritosa-Roberts. 2:30 experiments with a number of sculptures that were created during the residency as a response to choreographic ideas. The sculptures are based both on symbolism and emotional textures.
The foundation of this research comes from ethnographic material Klaudia gathered from survivors of the recent abuse scandals in the USA, UK and Germany, as well as an auto- ethnographic study from her own experience of growing up within the structures of the sport. The title 2:30 refers to the length of a group performance in rhythmic gymnasts, which reflects the repetitive nature of the sport and its focus on measuring and controlling the body.
2:30 is funded by the Midlands4Cites Doctoral Training Partnership and supported by Coventry Centre for Dance Research, KWAM collective and Morley College.
Bio.
Klaudia Wittmann
Kalaudia is artistic director of KWAM collective, a group of interdisciplinary artists from dance theatre, live performance, film and music. Whilst pursuing individual creative work, the collective shares a research interest in the human body, its place in society, and its potential for creative expression. It uses a multidisciplinary approach to realise projects and apply artistic methods in the community. Their work has been supported by The Place, East London Dance, ECHO, Redbridge Drama Centre, the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, Royal Philharmonic Society and Arts Council England.
Klaudia began her movement practice as an elite rhythmic gymnasts and member of the German national team from age 13. In 2009, she pursued her professional training in dance and physical theatre at London Studio Centre (UAL) and Jasmin Vardimon Company (JV2). She later completed an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths University.
Klaudia has worked with various choreographers both nationally and internationally, including Sounding MoCon Dance, Balbir Singh, Lara Ritosa-Roberts, Pascal Merighi, Moxie Brawl, Acrojou as well as being part of the creation of MAZE by Jasmin Vardimon and Turner Contemporary. Her professional experience further includes works for camera, both in feature and short films, including Otto Floss - Freelance watcher (2013) and Viscera: Autopsy of a (non)human Body (2021). She has mentored and choreographed for Porgolio by Sound & Music, and continuously created and performed for KWAM Collective. She is an associate of Experiment 6, an independent artist-led group that promotes experimental dance in South London.
Klaudia was recently awarded a scholarship by AHRC-funded M4C to undertake PhD practice research on gendered oppression and new choreographic practices at the Centre for Dance Research in Coventry. In this project, she works with survivors of the international abuse scandals in women's gymnastics.