AUTO-FIKTION: DER STRUGGLE SO REAL
Verena Brakonier
In the solo AUTO-FIKTION: DER STRUGGLE SO REAL, dancer and choreographer Verena Brakonier invites her audience on a journey to her childhood, to a car workshop. She dances and tells about experiences and memories. What is true and what is not remains unclear: an autofiction. Playfully and with critical humor, she shows how origins can affect the body, movements and the way through life. Between lifting platforms, tires and welding equipment, she negotiates classism, discrimination based on socio-economic origin and class position, and its influence – societal and on her personally. She explores a space between different milieus, male-dominated work environments, and so-called „high culture.“ When was the first time you went to the theater? And when to a car repair shop?
Duration: 1 h
Language: German
Meeting point: Meschwitzstraße 9-11, 01099 Dresden
The car workshop is not barrier-free. If needed, feel free to contact us via E:Mail in advance: ticket@hellerau.org
Verena Brakonier (pronouns she/her) is a working-class child and grew up in a small village in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, in a car repair shop. Outsiders noticed her joy of movement and her single mother encouraged her talent. She studied stage dance at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and works as a freelance dancer and choreographer, since 2010 in Hamburg. She has performed at festivals such as Tanz im August and Ruhrtriennale and received a danceWEB scholarship at the ImpulsTanz festival in Vienna, as well as an eight-month residency at K3 – Zentrum für Choreographie at Kampnagel. Verena collaborated with Antje Pfundtner, Jonas Woltemate, Moritz Frischkorn, Sylvie Kretzschmar, Schwabinggrad Ballett and Trajal Harrell. Since 2021 she realizes the research CLASS MATTERS (IMMER NOCH) in exchange with other artists and activists, among others at Fleetstreet Theater Hamburg, at PACT Zollverein and gives anti-classism workshops in the cultural field. Since 2011 Verena co-organizes the rehearsal stage in the Gängeviertel, an uncommercial, self-managed rehearsal space for theater and performance in Hamburg.
Artistic direction and performance: Verena Brakonier
Dramaturgy: Greta Granderath
Dramaturgy final rehearsals: David Mielecke
Music, Sound: Louise Vind Nielsen
Costumes: Ilona Klein
Artistic advice: Karolina and Kristina Dreit (Working Class Daughters), Ursina Tossi
Photos: Jonas Woltemate (preliminary), Simone Scardovelli (performances/workshop)
Production management, public relations: PK3000, Anja E. Redecker
Technique, realisation sound: Nourdin Ghanem
Support costume revival: Studio Lisa Jermies
Production assistance: Theresa Hähn, Leona Koldehoff
Interviews: Walburga Brakonier, Johannes Brakonier
The 2022 premiere was supported by: Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Department of Culture and Media; Susanne and Michael Liebelt Endowment Fund under the umbrella of the Hamburgische Kulturstiftung; Hamburgische Kulturstiftung; Rudolf Augstein Stiftung. Supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK – STEPPING OUT, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of the NEUSTART KULTUR. Hilfsprogramm Tanz. The April 2023 revival was supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of NEUSTART KULTUR. The guest performance in Dresden was made possible by the revival and guest performance sponsorship of the Dachverband freie darstellende Künste Hamburg with funds from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Department of Culture and Media.
