Dance Ambassador Celine

Once roam through our whole senses

“SINNich” by the collective “baff” in the field of theatre for young audiences

Thursday morning - I stood far too early in front of the theater. I let my thoughts wander and discovered a group of children who, as it turned out later, would also watch the play. They played wildly on the icy ground. Quite carefree and without thinking that it was very cold and smooth. I suddenly felt the urge within me to be like that. But my reason told me that ‘I better not run with the smoothness’. I looked towards the theatre and saw the snow cover burying everything underneath me. Suddenly a flash of mind. I started making a little snowman. With all my pride I then placed him on a stone directly in front of the field theater. My hands were completely frozen, but I was ready to look at the piece a little more with children's eyes.

In the vestibule there was a lot of hustle and bustle and it was very nasty. After a short introduction also in sign language we were allowed to enter the small sweet hall. My first glance fell directly on the stage, where it was also very ugly. I was looking forward to the piece because I did the piece “Thingings! Things!” from the group baff already knew and found the concept behind it totally exciting.

What excites me so much about the trio is not only the small funny fact that both performers are called Jan, but that they make pieces for T deaf and listening audiences, since Jan Kress himself is T aub and communicates on stage in German Sign Language (DGS). In our case that day there was even a group that was T*deaf.

This piece here was about getting to know all the senses better. The stage laboratory was opened. In total there were 5 experiments ahead of us. After a short introduction, the first experiment started.

Experiment 1: Seeing - Fly

We experienced directly how a fly looks. What was exciting about each experiment was that it was not only represented by dance, but we each got very interesting information about the respective meaning in advance.

Experiment 2: Listening - bat

With a very humorous style and also the selection of costumes and props we were explained how a bat hears. It can make a sound without us hearing it. This sound then hits an obstacle and then comes back to it. The combination of information through language and sign language and a dance scene made every experiment complete.

Experiment 3: Smell - dog

A dog can smell up to 100,000 times better than humans. We only have 5-6 million olfactory cells. You can imagine how many a dog has. It was very humorous because the dog was not a dog, but a vacuum cleaner and let me have said one thing also this dog wanted to play balls. My God I had to laugh because I had my little chaotic fur noses in front of me, with the difference that mine would not bring me back the ball. But running behind and everything was very fitting.

Experiment 4: Taste - catfish

It was exciting because you have hardly any points of contact with the catfish. A catfish tastes good on his body. Krass interesting. Especially in this experiment I liked the stage design and the costume as catfish. The highlight for everyone was probably the big donut. I have to say that after every experiment a performer wanted to be like the animal only here he wanted to be the doughnut. I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.

Experiment 5: Feeling - plant

Not only animals and humans have sensory organs, but also plants. The performers became different plantations and fought around each other. The tree was also the laugh for many.

I could write a lot more now, this piece was just a complete package of learning content, dance and a lot of humor.

One more thing I would like to stress. I thought it was great how the technicians inside were also a part of the performance and not just adorning accessories, as it is unfortunately often. The team of performers inside and technicians inside were as round as my snowman at the beginning of the piece. There were special moments because the technicians rearranged the stage in front of our eyes between the experiments, e.g. the light rods moved to a different position and thus the stage appeared completely different. Another exciting moment was when one of the technicians inside with a guitar became part of the show and played live for us and thus supported the performers inside in their experiment. They not only operated the music on the devices, but also made music for us up close. Everyone had their little golden moment and everyone was equal. It blurred the classic roles of performers inside and technicians inside. They were a community that was strong together.

I was brightly enthusiastic and went out of the performance with a wide grin. In such a beautiful and uncomplicated way you can bring the meaning of the sensory organs to the children and also show that every person plays a very important role in a production. Because without the back support of the technicians inside it can not work. In general, I think the 3 performers inside were a great team and I'm happy every time they do a project together. Please keep it up. I am a fan!