A choreography for several polystyrene shapes and one human.

MATERIA explores the possibilities of one material, polystyrene, to the point it becomes alive and protagonist of the events on stage. The role of the performer shifts towards the one of the facilitator, and the focus is constantly negotiated between object, manipulator and manipulation.

A path leads and follows the material from the hesitating movement quality of a delicate encounter to the loud soundscape of a self-sufficient apparatus. Drifting between calmness and darkness, between discovery and destruction. The piece tries not to force a narrative but rather let the audience project their own narrative on the images presented on stage. Within a set score, objects are free to perform and take initiatives.

ABOUT THE ARTIST Andrea Salustri comes from Rome, where he learned contact juggling, fire manipulation, and has worked as a street artist. In 2013 he graduated cum laude in philosophy at La Sapienza University in Rome, then moved to Berlin to pursue an education in contemporary dance. He first completed the Dance Intensive program at Tanzfabrik Berlin, and successively studied dance and choreography at HZT Berlin University. Currently, he is creating multi-media circus installations, and touring his work MATERIA. Andrea is a laureate artist for circusnext 2018-2019.

CREDITS Creation & performance: Andrea Salustri Lighting design & technical direction: Michele Piazzi Technical team: Michele Piazzi, Chamsedine Madec, Mattia Bonetti
Sound design: Federico Coderoni Original music: Ah! Kosmos, Federico Coderoni Creative advisors: Kalle Nio, Roman Müller, Darragh McLoughlin, Alex Lempert, Benjamin Richter, Matthias Buhrow Production management: Migle Morkunaite Diffusion: Aurora Nova Videography NFT: Christoffer Collina Co-production: PERPLX Residencies: Chamäleon Theatre, L’Espace Périphérique – La Villette, La Maison des Jonglages, La Briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne, Cirqu’Aarau, Katapult Berlin, HZT Berlin, kunstencentrum BUDA, PERPLX Further support: circusnext European Platform co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, Chamäleon Productions, Cirqu'Aarau, circus re:searched, Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe, TelepART programme of the Finnish institute in Germany

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Medium: Stage Performance Materials: Polystyrene, ventilators, microphones, sound and light effects Length: 55’ Year: 2021 Presentations: MATERIA has been performed worldwide across more than 20 countries. Among others, it has been presented by the Singapore International Festival of Arts, the Venice Dance Biennale, the International London Mime Festival, and the Taipei Performing Arts Center.