Lab Laura Kirshenbaum - In The Garden

The Creative Crossroad artist Laura Kirshenbaum, selected by ICI-CCN de Montpellier, was selected to work on her latest projects "H.A.N.D.S." and her solo "No hard feelings".

Laura Kirshenbaum is a french-israeli choreographer, she was EXERCE MA and graduated in 2017. She is based in Montpellier and sharing her time between the developpement of her work in France, Israël, Sweeden and Belgium, and activelly participating to the Montpellier artistic scene. 

In the frame of Creative Crossroads, she is supported by ICI-CCN de Montpellier, STUK House for Dance, Image and Sound (Leuven, Belgium), 4Culture (Bucarest, Romania) and Tala Dance Center/Kik Melone (Zagreb).

In the garden
During the September 2022 residency at ICI-CCN de Montpellier, Laura Kirshenbaum is working on her latest work In the garden. The research will partly take place at the Montpellier Botanical Garden.
23.09.2022: work-in-progress - public opening

In the frame of her residency at Antisezona, hosted by Kik Meline, Laura Kirshenbaum holds a workshop with local artists titled In the Garden:

I am Laura Kirshenbaum, a dancer and choreographer living in Montpellier, France. I hold an MA in choreography and research from the Exerce Master program (ICI — centre chorégraphique national Montpellier in partnership with Paul Valéry University), and have been working extensively in the dance field for the past 10 years.  This year I will start working on my new project In the Garden, a site specific project, aimed to be performed in the botanical garden of Montpellier. The botanical garden in Montpellier is the first botanical garden to be established in France, and was commissioned by King Henry IV.

As I will arrive to Zagreb to participate in ANTISEZONA, the possibility of launching the research in Zagreb’s botanical garden appeared to me as an interesting terrain to begin with. 

Each botanical garden carries its own history and vegetation; one plant that is displayed in Montpellier will not be found in Zagreb. However, what I see in common is the ecology of diversity, care and the concept of interconnectivity; all are necessary and urgent practices to embody and share with one another in light of the different crises we are facing.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

In the workshop we will explore the garden by applying different physical and choreographic tools. I am interested in understanding further the idea of botanical gardens;  this unique assemblage of both local and international vegetal agents, displaying histories and cultural connections, alongside sensorial and corporal faculties which are addressed throughout the visit.

The workshop points of departure are the following questions: What is happening when we spend time with and in proximity to vegetal presences, what is happening to our senses? To our perception? How can we take care of plants, and each other? What are the affects of this encounter on both sides (we can only speculate and imagine how the plants are being affected)? These questions among other questions would be the workshop’s ground. 

I approach this workshop setup as a temporary learning community, that by practicing together and exchanging impressions, new knowledge can emerge; knowledge which is based on experiential and sensorial proposals.

During the workshop we will walk in the garden, and try physical exercises where it will be accepted and agreed upon in advance. The workshop is open to the local artistic community, and will be limited to 10 participants.

NO HARD FEELINGS  is the second part of H.A.N.D project where anything can happen and nothing is taken for granted.
Going back to Genesis, Laura Kirshenbaum alters archetypal representations of women, calling upon Eve’s avatars and their portrayal over time. With a sense of irony and humour, she celebrates and dances her constantly becoming selves and herstories: at times a witch, a whore, both snake and bird, ghost, fluid, irruptive.
Her approach to corporeality is playful: displacing images, fictionalising facts, revealing instabilities.
Gaps proliferate.
With imagination at hand and trouble in action, eating the apple isn’t that big of a deal.

Choreography and performance Laura Kirshenbaum
Music Paola Stella Minni and Konstantinos Rizos in collaboration with Laura Kirshenbaum
Scenography, Light and Costumes Anat Bosak
External eye Myrto Ktstiki, Nitsan Margaliot 
Production Golden Hands
Co production ICI CCN Montpellier - Occitanie / Pyrénées Méditerranée / Direction Christian Rizzo, STUK house for image and sound, WASP working art space and production Bucarest 

NO HARD FEELINGS is enjoying the support of Creative Crossroads program (2018-2020), commissioned by Life Long Burning-  Towards a sustainable Eco-System for Contemporary Dance in Europe.

Residencies ICI-CCN Montpellier - Occitanie / Pyrénées Méditerranée / Direction Christian Rizzo, STUK , Kelim Center for Choreography (Israel), Studio La nef (Montpellier ), Honolulu (Nantes), ENSAD École Nationale Supérieure d'Art Dramatique de Montpellier.

View her experience report in the upper right column and in the gallery below.