Cultivating Calm And Mindfulness With BIKINI BERLIN And Staatsballett Berlin

Of course, ballet dance has been a mainstay of cultural fascination for centuries, from the court of King Louis XIV to Degas’s dancers to Beyoncé’s music video “Countdown”. Most recently, dance wear has made its way back into fashion, with luxury brands like Rodarte, Lemaire, and Miu Miu center stage in its revival. The allure of the art form is undeniable: The seemingly effortless grace, exclusivity, and sophistication make ballet an understandable object of desire. In this case, however, another layer is at play.

There is a tender moment in the present work, consisting of a photo series and video film, when two ballerinas are side by side, resting their arms on each other partner’s shoulders. The choreography is infused with a spirit of enquiry. The quietly meditative but arresting scene raises questions such as how we recognize our desire for being connected in the real world – and in the moment –, when we are continuously in motion, or how we relate to our own humanness through its movement.