Shelters

What is the place of empathy in a psyco-apathic society? In a time where our inner self is fed by insecurities, threatened by a reality that proposes unrealistic icons and standards, we find ourselves in need to build walls between each other, supposed to shelter us from attacks coming from the lack of humanizing with others. How can we promote the creation of bridges between people coming from different experiences but sharing the same reality?

In this piece, we see a metaphorical representation of the detachment from one's own culture to embrace something new, unexpected, with a highlight on the psychological difficulties that immigrants have to face on a daily basis, often caused by a lack of empathy in the hosting environment. 

Full of elements coming from the choreographer's motherland, Salento, like the choice of the music, of the objects on stage, of some steps, Shelters talks nevertheless about all those stories, often censored, of courageous people who had the strength to coming out of an oppressive life situation and being lucky enough to have survived the journey to "a better place".

Sometimes when we embrace something new, like a new culture and a new people, we think we have a sort of obligation to free ourselves from what has happened before that moment. We get rid of old habits, old objects, old thoughts, until we almost get rid of ourselves.  

Our history is what keeps us safe, it is a place inside us where we find knowledge and regain humilty, if only we take time to remember it. 

Memory is a vital condition for a brighter life.

Concept: Chiara Fersini (2022)

Choreography & Dance: Chiara Fersini

Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media within the program NEUSTART KULTUR. 

Winner of the call RiGenerAzioni 2024 of Network Internazionale Danza Puglia.