Inter Relatio: A Living Performance of Balance and Interdependence

Inter Relatio is an innovative performance that blends dance, visual art, and ecofeminism to explore the delicate balance of interdependence in nature and society. Supported by ESPRONCEDA Institute of Art & Culture, the piece was showcased at the Stockholm Fringe Festival 2024.

This site-specific installation incorporates reeds, which are activated by a dancer’s movements, creating a living, dynamic structure. The interaction between the human body and the reeds symbolizes how even the smallest action can influence the larger environment, echoing the interconnectedness of life.

At its core, Inter Relatio embodies the philosophy of constructivist ecofeminism, a theory that emphasizes the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and gendered systems. The performance demonstrates this interconnectedness and also asks the audience to reflect on the responsibility we all share in maintaining balance in the world around us.

The Creation Process and Development of Inter Relatio

The creation of Inter Relatio is a collaborative effort between artists and performers, including choreographer Ana Rosa Manzanera and visual artist Ángeles Císcar. The performance and installation are designed to adapt to each space, and this adaptability makes each performance a living, breathing expression of balance and interrelation. The reeds, intricately woven into the structure, respond physically to the dancer’s movements, creating an interplay of tension, change, and motion that transforms the space itself.

The piece explores the relationship between body, space, and natural materials, emphasizing the fragile balance that exists in nature. The dancer’s body becomes a key agent in this transformation, illustrating how even small, mindful actions can influence the environment. As the performance progresses, the reeds change, shift, and move, demonstrating the constant evolution of balance and interdependence in our world.

The Artists Behind Inter Relatio

The artistic vision of Inter Relatio comes from the talented collaboration between:

• Ángeles Císcar, the visual artist behind the installation, crafts the reed sculptures that are central to the piece. Her work in Inter Relatio blends sculptural art with the environment, creating an ever-changing, interactive installation that evolves as the dancer performs. Ángeles’ vision is vital to the piece’s adaptability, as the reeds react to the dancer’s movements, embodying the concept of interrelation in a tangible, visual form.
• Ana Rosa Manzanera, the choreographer, brings her deep understanding of contemporary dance and spatial sensitivity when working with the sculptures and the space. Through her choreography, she weaves the movement of the dancer with the reeds, creating a dynamic dialogue between the human body and the natural world.
• Ricardo Cortés, an electroacoustic music composer with extensive experience in designing soundscapes for the performing arts, has brought his talent to this piece to provide auditory emotions to the images created through the choreography and the sculptures.